Ever wondered how to say \”next to what\” in Chinese? Let’s dive into this handy phrase and make your Mandarin learning journey a breeze! In Chinese, \”在什么旁边\” (zài shénme pángbiān) is the go-to expression for asking or stating what something is next to. Breaking it down: \”在\” (zài) means \”at\” or \”in,\” \”什么\” (shénme) is \”what,\” and \”旁边\” (pángbiān) translates to \”next to\” or \”beside.\” So, if you’re pointing at a café and want to ask, \”What’s next to the café?\” you’d say, \”咖啡馆旁边是什么？\” (kāfēi guǎn pángbiān shì shénme?).
Learning Mandarin doesn’t have to feel like solving a puzzle! Here’s a fun trick: pair new words with visuals. Imagine a cat sitting \”旁边\” (pángbiān) a dog—it’s easier to remember when you see it in your mind. Another tip? Use it daily! Ask your friend, \”你的手机在什么旁边？\” (nǐ de shǒujī zài shénme pángbiān? – \”What’s next to your phone?\”). The more you play with phrases, the more natural they’ll feel. And hey, don’t stress tones too much at first—even if you say \”旁边\” (pángbiān) with a wonky tone, context will save you. Ready to try? Look around and describe what’s \”旁边\” in your room—you’re already thinking in Chinese!