Easy Korean - Level 3, Unit 3: Location Words (Front, Back, Side, etc.)

In this unit, we will learn how to describe where things are located. We will use position words and the location particle 에 (e) which means "at" or "in".

Basic Position Words

Here are the most common words used to describe locations relative to an object:

• 앞 (ap) = front
• 뒤 (dwi) = back / behind
• 옆 (yeop) = side / next to
• 위 (wi) = top / over / above
• 밑 (mit) / 아래 (a-rae) = bottom / under / below
• 안 (an) = inside
• 밖 (bak) = outside
• 사이 (sa-i) = between

How to use them

To say that something is in a specific position relative to a noun, you use this structure: Noun + Position Word + 에

• 책상 위 (chaek-sang wi) = top of the desk

• 책상 위에 (chaek-sang wi-e) = on top of the desk

• 집 앞 (jip ap) = front of the house

• 집 앞에 (jip a-pe) = in front of the house

Describing where something is

We usually combine these location phrases with the verbs 있다 (to be/exist) and 없다 (to not be/not exist).

• 은행은 학교 옆에 있어요. (The bank is next to the school.)
• 고양이가 의자 밑에 있어요. (The cat is under the chair.)
• 가방 안에 지갑이 없어요. (The wallet is not inside the bag.)

"Between" (사이)

When using 사이 (between), you usually need two nouns. You connect them with 하고 or (이)랑, meaning "and."

Noun 1 + 하고/랑 + Noun 2 + 사이에

• 약국은 병원하고 은행 사이에 있어요. (The pharmacy is between the hospital and the bank.)

Example Sentences

1. 컴퓨터는 책상 위에 있어요. (The computer is on the desk.)
2. 차 뒤에 숨었어요. (I hid behind the car.)
3. 우리 집 앞에 편의점이 있어요. (There is a convenience store in front of our house.)