Zai duimian (在对面): It's opposite in Chinese

在对面。

zài duìmiàn

It's opposite

Character breakdown

在

at, in, on

zài

对

opposite, facing

duì

面

side, face

miàn

Grammar and structure

在 (zài) means "at" or "in," and 对面 (duìmiàn) means "opposite side." Together, they form a locative phrase meaning "is opposite."

Variations and politeness

就在对面

jiù zài duìmiàn

It's right opposite. — More colloquial, adds emphasis with 就 (jiù).

在那边

zài nà biān

It's over there. — Shorter and less precise.

在对面那边

zài duìmiàn nà biān

It's on the opposite side over there. — More polite and clarifying.

Mini dialogue

请问，银行在哪里？

qǐngwèn, yínháng zài nǎlǐ?

Excuse me, where is the bank?

就在对面。

jiù zài duìmiàn.

It's right opposite.

When to use it

Appropriate

When giving directions to a place that is directly across from a known landmark.
When the speaker and listener are both aware of the reference point, so 'opposite' is clear.
In casual conversation when a short answer is sufficient, often after being asked where something is.

Avoid when

When the location is not directly across from anything, but rather nearby or around the corner.
When an English speaker might incorrectly insert a verb like 'is' between 在 and 对面, e.g., saying '在是对面' instead of just '在对面'.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say 'It's opposite' in Chinese?

You can say '在对面' (zài duìmiàn). It literally means 'at opposite side' and is used to indicate that something is across from a reference point.

How do you pronounce 在对面?

It is pronounced 'zài duìmiàn'. The tones are: zài (4th tone), duì (4th tone), miàn (4th tone).

When do you use 在对面?

Use it when giving directions to say that a place is directly opposite from where you are or from a known landmark. It's often used in response to '在哪里?' (where is it?).