在…上
The English word "on" can be translated into Chinese as 在…上.
This phrase is used to indicate that something is positioned at or resting against the outer surface of something, or is attached to it.
Meaning: positioned at or resting against the outer surface of, attached to (prep)
What does it mean word for word?
The part 在 means "at/in/on" and the part 上 means "top/above".
How does it change in a sentence?
This is a split construction where the object must be placed between the prepositional elements 在 and 上.
Did you know?
- The word 上 is often paired with 下 to describe not just 'up and down' but 'superior and inferior'. This means the word for 'on' is tied to social hierarchy in the Chinese language.
- In some contexts, 上 can be used as a verb meaning 'to go up' or 'to attend'. For example, the phrase for 'going to school' uses the same character as 'on'.
- While English uses 'on' for both 'on the table' and 'on the wall', Chinese speakers might switch to different directional words depending on whether the object is 'on' a horizontal or vertical surface.
Examples in context
- 坐在椅子上, zuò zài yǐzi shàngsitting on a chair
- 把书放在桌子上, bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàngPut the book on the table
- 坐在公交车上, zuò zài gōngjiāochē shàngbeing on a bus
- 挂照片在墙上, guà zhàopiàn zài qiáng shànghanging a picture on a wall
- 她在桌子上放了一杯水。 (Tā zài zhuōzi shàng fàngle yì bēi shuǐ.)She placed a glass of water on the table.
- 请把书放在椅子上。 (Qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài yǐzi shàng.)Please put the book on the chair.
- 他把照片挂在墙上了。 (Tā bǎ zhàopiàn guà zài qiáng shàng le.)He hung the picture on the wall.
- 书在桌子上。The book is on the table.
