Next to and near
Word sets, Stage 3chunk 13 of 19Position and direction
Say where something is: next to, near, beside, between.
- tonarinext to; next door
- sobanear; beside
- yokoside; beside; sideways
- aidabetween; while (a stretch of time)
Mix-ups tonari is next to the same kind of thing; yoko is beside anything; soba is just near.
tonari
next to; next door
Right beside, usually the same kind of thing: seats, houses, people.
tonari no hito = the neighbour, or the person in the next seat.
tonari, suwatte mo ii?
Mind if I sit next to you?
隣、座ってもいい？
tonari ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?
May I sit next to you?
隣に座ってもいいですか？
Written 隣 · となりRank #921 in 3,030 TV dramas
soba
near; beside
Close by, vaguer than tonari or yoko: eki no soba = near the station.
Same sound as soba noodles.
eki no soba ni sunderu n da.
I live near the station.
駅のそばに住んでるんだ。
eki no soba ni sunde imasu.
I live near the station.
駅のそばに住んでいます。
Written そばRank #785 in 3,030 TV dramas
yoko
side; beside; sideways
Beside anything at all, not just the same kind of thing.
yoko ni naru = lie down.
kagi, terebi no yoko ni oita yo.
I put the keys next to the TV.
鍵、テレビの横に置いたよ。
kagi wa terebi no yoko ni okimashita.
I put the keys next to the TV.
鍵はテレビの横に置きました。
Written 横 · よこRank #2228 in 3,030 TV dramas
aida
between; while (a stretch of time)
X to Y no aida = between X and Y.
kono aida = the other day.
ginkou to yuubinkyoku no aida ni aru yo.
It's between the bank and the post office.
銀行と郵便局の間にあるよ。
ginkou to yuubinkyoku no aida ni arimasu.
It's between the bank and the post office.
銀行と郵便局の間にあります。
Written 間 · あいだRank #389 in 3,030 TV dramas