Chinese for Beginners: Describe Rooms and Furniture with 在 and Adjectives
Learn to describe interiors in Mandarin using 在 (zài), position words like 上/下/旁边, and adjectives such as 小 and 新. Build sentences like 窗户旁边有一张小桌子.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn to describe what is inside a room and where furniture is placed. The core pattern is 地方 + 有 + 东西 (a place has something), and to add location, use 在 + place + position word. For example, 窗户旁边有一张小桌子 (There is a small table by the window). Adjectives like 小 (small), 大 (big), 新 (new), and 旧 (old) come before the noun without any linking word. You will also learn common position words: 上 (on), 下 (under), 里 (inside), 旁边 (beside), and 对面 (opposite). Unlike English, Chinese does not change adjectives for number or gender, and there is no verb 'to be' in the 'there is' pattern. Practice saying each phrase aloud, paying attention to tones.
By the end, you can…
- name at least six pieces of furniture in Chinese.
- use 有 to say what is in a room.
- use 在 and position words to say where something is.
- add simple adjectives like 小, 大, 新, 旧 before nouns.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
窗户旁边有一张小桌子。
There is a small table by the window.
Chuāng hu pángbiān yǒu yì zhāng xiǎo zhuōzi.
Use 张 (zhāng) as the measure word for tables and desks. 小 (xiǎo) means small.
墙上有一幅画。
There is a picture on the wall.
Qiáng shàng yǒu yì fú huà.
Use 幅 (fú) for paintings. 上 (shàng) means on.
床下有一个箱子。
There is a box under the bed.
Chuáng xià yǒu yí ge xiāngzi.
下 (xià) means under. 个 (ge) is the general measure word.
书架上有三本新书。
There are three new books on the bookshelf.
Shūjià shàng yǒu sān běn xīn shū.
本 (běn) is the measure word for books. 新 (xīn) means new.
椅子在桌子对面。
The chair is opposite the table.
Yǐzi zài zhuōzi duìmiàn.
对面 (duì miàn) means opposite. 在 (zài) marks location.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say what exists in a place, use: Place + 有 + Thing. Example: 房间里有床。 (There is a bed in the room.) To add location, put the specific position after the place: 桌子上面有一本书。 (There is a book on the table.) The position word (上面, 下面, 里面, 旁边, 对面) comes after the noun. Adjectives like 小, 大, 新, 旧 go directly before the noun: 一张大床 (a big bed), 两把旧椅子 (two old chairs). Measure words are required between a number and a noun: 一张桌子, 两把椅子, 三本书. Note that 有 here expresses existence, not possession; the same verb is used for both, so context determines the meaning.
When to use it
Use these patterns when describing a room to someone, giving directions inside a house, or talking about where you put things. For example, if a friend asks 你的房间有什么？ (What is in your room?), you can answer 我的房间有一张床、一个书架和两把椅子。 (My room has a bed, a bookshelf, and two chairs.) If you need to be specific, add position: 书架在床旁边。 (The bookshelf is beside the bed.) Note that 在 is also used for location of people: 我在厨房。 (I am in the kitchen.) But for objects, the 有 pattern is more natural when introducing them. When the subject is a specific, already-known object, 在 is preferred: 书在桌子上。 (The book is on the table.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你的客厅里有什么？
What is in your living room?Nǐ de kètīng lǐ yǒu shénme?客厅里有一个沙发和一张小桌子。
In the living room there is a sofa and a small table.Kètīng lǐ yǒu yí ge shāfā hé yì zhāng xiǎo zhuōzi.桌子在哪儿？
Where is the table?Zhuōzi zài nǎr?桌子在窗户旁边。
The table is by the window.Zhuōzi zài chuāng hu pángbiān.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese homes, it is common to remove shoes at the entrance, and living rooms often have a sofa, tea table, and TV. When describing rooms, Chinese speakers often use 有 to introduce items and then 在 to specify location. Politeness: when visiting someone's home, avoid commenting negatively on their furniture; instead, you might say 你的房间很干净。 (Your room is very clean.) Also, measure words are essential; using the wrong one can sound odd, but learners are usually understood.
One thing to watch for
Saying 桌子是一张小 instead of 桌子是一张小桌子, or omitting the measure word: 一桌子. Also, using 是 for 'there is': 窗户旁边是一张小桌子.
Try this instead: Always include a measure word between a number and a noun, and place adjectives before the noun. Correct: 一张小桌子 (one small table). Also, do not use 是 for 'there is'; use 有: 窗户旁边有一张小桌子, not 窗户旁边是一张小桌子.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'There is a big bed in the room'?
Show a sample answer
房间里有一张大床。
房间 (room) + 里 (inside) + 有 (there is) + 一张 (one, measure word for bed) + 大 (big) + 床 (bed). The measure word for bed is 张.
2Translate: 'The chair is under the table.'
Show a sample answer
椅子在桌子下面。
椅子 (chair) + 在 (is at) + 桌子 (table) + 下面 (under). Alternatively, 桌子下面有一把椅子 means 'There is a chair under the table', which is also correct but shifts focus.
3What is the measure word for books, and how do you say 'three new books'?
Show a sample answer
本 (běn); 三本新书 (sān běn xīn shū).
本 is the measure word for books. 新 (new) comes before the noun. So 三本新书 means 'three new books'.
Use 有 to say what is in a room, and 在 + position word to say where something is. Always put adjectives before the noun and use the correct measure word. Practice by describing your own room in Chinese.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr