Find It Fast: Korean Location Words and Postpositions (에 vs 에서, 위에/옆에/사이에)

Ever needed to ask “Where is the restroom?” in Korean? Location words and postpositions are your secret map! In this lesson, you’ll learn the core pattern for saying where things are, when to use 에 vs 에서, and the most common location nouns like 위(위에), 뒤(뒤에), 옆(옆에), and more. We’ll practice with mini quizzes and dialogues so you can use them right away.

The core pattern: N + 위치 + 에 + 있어요

In Korean, you often attach the postposition 에 to a location word to show where something is.

  • Basic pattern: [Thing] + [Location phrase] + 에 + 있어요
  • Example: 가방이 책상 위에 있어요. = The bag is on the desk.

Common location nouns (attach 에)

Below are the most useful ones for everyday life. Add 에 after them to mark location.

앞 앞
front, in front
noun
은행 앞에 버스 정류장이 있어요.
There is a bus stop in front of the bank.
뒤 뒤
back, behind
noun
가게 뒤에 주차장이 있어요.
There is a parking lot behind the store.
위 위
top, above, on
noun
책이 책상 위에 있어요.
The book is on the desk.
아래 아래
under, below
noun
신발이 침대 아래에 있어요.
The shoes are under the bed.
밑 밑
underneath (physical underside)
noun
우산이 의자 밑에 있어요.
The umbrella is under the chair.
옆 옆
side, next to
noun
사무실 옆에 카페가 있어요.
There’s a café next to the office.
사이 사이
between
noun
도서관은 학교와 시청 사이에 있어요.
The library is between the school and city hall.
안 안
inside
noun
고양이가 상자 안에 있어요.
The cat is inside the box.
밖 밖
outside
noun
사람들이 건물 밖에 있어요.
People are outside the building.
근처 근처
near, nearby
noun
우리 집 근처에 편의점이 있어요.
There’s a convenience store near our house.

Notes on 아래 vs 밑

  • 아래 and 밑 both mean “under.” 아래 is more general, while 밑 often emphasizes the physical underside. In daily speech, both are common.

에 vs 에서: Place of being vs place of action

  • 에 marks where something is or goes (static location or destination).
  • 에서 marks where an action happens (place of activity).

Compare:

  • 가방이 교실에 있어요. = The bag is in the classroom. (being)
  • 저는 교실에서 공부해요. = I study in the classroom. (action)
Korean
학생들이 교실에서 이야기해요.
Lit: Students in classroom talk.
Students chat in the classroom.
Korean
가방이 의자 위에 있어요.
Lit: Bag chair on is.
The bag is on the chair.
🧠 에 vs 에서 vs 으로/에게

화장실은 엘리베이터 있어요.

🔠 Put the words in order

Subject/topic first, then place + location + 에

Putting it together: direction with (으)로

Use (으)로 to show direction toward a destination.

  • 집으로 가요. = I’m going home.
  • 오른쪽(으로) 가세요. = Go to the right.

You can mix it with 에서 for origin:

  • 학교에서 집으로 걸어가요. = I walk home from school.
Korean
지하철역에서 회사로 가요.
Lit: Subway station from company to go.
I go to the company from the subway station.

저는 카페 공부해요.

💬 Asking for the restroom
도서관에서 있어요. → 도서관에 있어요. Use 에 with 있다/없다 (being). Use 에서 for actions. 은행 사이에 있어요. → 은행과 우체국 사이에 있어요. 사이에 usually needs two places linked by 와/과 (or 하고).
사이 noun (between) 에 postposition (location)
Korean
고양이는 상자 안에 있어요.
Lit: Cat box inside is.
The cat is inside the box.

Cultural note: Navigating Korean spaces

  • In Korea, directions like “엘리베이터 옆에” (next to the elevator) or “문 앞에” (in front of the door) are common in buildings and offices.
  • Shoes are taken off at home; you might hear “신발은 현관에” (shoes at the entryway) and “실내화는 문 옆에” (indoor slippers next to the door).
  • Stores often say “계산대는 오른쪽에 있어요” (the checkout is on the right).

Quick practice: Say where things are

Try to describe your room or office with these prompts:

  • 책상 위에 뭐가 있어요? (What is on the desk?)
  • 침대 아래에 뭐가 있어요? (What is under the bed?)
  • 문 옆에 뭐가 있어요? (What is next to the door?) Answer with 있어요/없어요 and the right location word + 에.

Summary

  • Use 에 for being (있다/없다) and destination; use 에서 for actions.
  • Attach 에 to location nouns: 앞/뒤/위/아래(밑)/옆/사이/안/밖/근처.
  • For movement, combine 에서 (origin) with (으)로 (direction).
  • 사이에 usually links two places (와/과, 하고).
  • Watch context for 밖에 (outside vs only + negative).

You’ve got this!

Now you can find things fast in Korean: 앞에, 뒤에, 옆에… Practice by describing your space and asking for directions. Keep it simple, be polite, and use 에 vs 에서 confidently. 화이팅!