Chinese word

对面

Pronunciation

Pinyinduì miàn

Meaning

  • nounopposite

Example

他住在我对面。tā zhù zài wǒ duì miàn

He lives across from me.

Illustration for 对面 (opposite)

More examples

小明坐在老师对面。xiǎo míng zuò zài lǎo shī duì miàn

Xiaoming is sitting opposite the teacher.

Core concept

The place that lies face-to-face with a reference point across an intervening space.

Common phrases

  • 对面的商店duì miàn de shāng diàn

    the store on the opposite side

  • 在学校对面zài xué xiào duì miàn

    opposite the school

  • 坐在桌子对面zuò zài zhuō zi duì miàn

    sit opposite the table

Similar words

旁边páng biān: The place immediately beside a person or thing.
隔壁gé bì: The room or home next door, with a wall between.
前面qián miàn: The place on the forward side of a person or thing.

Definition in Chinese

与说话者或参照物相对的那一边、位置。yǔ shuō huà zhě huò cān zhào wù xiāng duì de nà yì biān wèi zhì

Word origin

对面 (duìmiàn, "opposite side") is a transparent compound of 对 (duì, "facing") + 面 (miàn, "side"), describing a side turned toward a reference point.

Usage tips

  • Although English uses opposite for disagreement as well as position, the Chinese location noun 对面 (duìmiàn, "opposite side") does not describe an opposing opinion.

Other meanings

  • other sidenoun

Word lists with this word