You have seen in this lesson a number of nouns denoting specific place relationships. With 에 in, at, on after them, they mean in [a certain place relationship]. Here is a list:
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- 안에 inside
- 속에 inside
- 밖에 outside
- 위에 above, over, on (top)
- 밑에 at the bottom, below under(neath)
- 아래(에) below, lower, down
- 앞에 in front
- 뒤에 at the back; behind
- 근처에 near, in the vicinity of
- 옆에 next to, beside
- 편(or 쪽) side, direction
- 왼편/쪽에 on the left
- 오른편/쪽에 on the right
- 맞은편에 across from, opposite
- 건너편 across from, opposite
- 사이에 between
These are PLACE NOUNS. They are most frequently used in phrases with other nouns (refer again to section 5.6, noun use (c) if necessary), as in:
- 대학교 앞에 in front of the university
- 대사관 옆에 next to the embassy
It is important to put these nouns in the right order. If the place noun comes before the other noun, the meaning is changed -the place noun modifies the noun that follows it. This point is best illustrated by example. There are many, but the following are typical:
- 문 앞에 in front of the door
- 앞문 the front door
- 방 옆에 next to the room
- 옆방 the next room
The place noun 사이 (사이에 between) by the nature of its meaning usually requires two nouns before it; these are linked with 하고 and:
- 학교하고 집 사이에 between the school and the house
Some place nouns are also used as time nouns: 사이 can refer to an interval of time as well as of space; 앞 can refer ahead in time (앞으로 in future); 안 can mean within (a certain time), and 다음 most commonly means next (in order or time).
General location is marked with the particle 에: 옆 방에 있어요. Its in the next room. or 집에 있어요. She’s at home.But Korean has two place nouns -안 and 속 -for the same more specific English gloss: inside. It is difficult to distinguish the nuances, but 안 tends to mean the inside of loosely filled spaces -a room, a building, a garden, for example- things which generally have more air than substance filling their interior, while 속 tends to mean the inside of things which are normally well filled, or which are easily filled up -a suitcase, a drawer, etc.
Corresponding to such English expressions as where in this room – requests for more specific locations -there are Korean phrases like these:
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- 이 교실 안 어디(요)?
- (in what place of this classroom’s inside? =) where in this classroom?
- 이 교실 안 어디(요)?
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- 책상 위 어디(요)?
- where on (top of) the desk?
- 책상 위 어디(요)?
You may have noticed the relationship between a special set of place nouns and the set of noun-modifying nouns you learned:
- 이this
- 여기this place, here
- 그that (nearby, aforementioned)
- 거기that place, there (nearby, aforementioned)
- 저that (over there)
- 저기that place, (over) there
You will hear these words occasionally pronounced 요, 고, 조 and 요기,고기, 조기. These add a connotation of smallness or cuteness (“this li’l. . .”)or of deprecation (“this ole”).
Here are further examples of the usage of place nouns:
- 광화문 근처에는 무슨 건물이 있어요?
What kind of buildings are there in the vicinity of Kwanghwamun? - 백화점 건너편에 무엇이 있어요?
What is there across from the department store? - 대학교 정문 앞에 가방가게 있어요?
Is there a briefcase shop outside [‘in front of’] the main gate of the university? - 이 건물 안에 커피숍이 있어요?
Is there a coffee shop in(side of) this building?