Location Word: 附近 (fùjìn) - Nearby/Vicinity

附近 functions as a noun of locality. In English, we say "near the school." In Chinese, the order flips. You say "school nearby." It acts like a label for a zone. You can use it after a specific place. You can also use it to describe a noun. It is flexible but follows specific patterns. It is like a grammar Lego piece. It snaps onto places to create new meanings.

1. 1Place + 附近: This describes the area around a specific spot. Example: 学校附近 (Near the school).
2. 2附近 + 的 + Noun: This describes a specific thing in the vicinity. Example: 附近的超市 (A nearby supermarket).
3. 3在 + Place + 附近: This tells you where something is located. Example: 他在家附近 (He is near home).
4. 4这 / 那 + 附近: This refers to "around here" or "around there." Example: 这附近有书店吗？ (Is there a bookstore around here?).

Use it when you are house hunting. You want to know if a gym is 附近. Use it when ordering food on an app. You look for restaurants in your 附近. It is perfect for giving directions. It is also great for job interviews. You might ask if the office is 附近 a subway station. It is a polite way to be vague. You don't need an exact address. Just a general idea will do. Even native speakers love this vagueness! It makes conversations feel more natural and less like a police report.

Do not use 附近 for people. You cannot say "I am near you" as 我在你附近. That sounds like you are stalking them! Use 我在你这儿 or 我快到了 instead. Do not use it for time. You cannot say "near five o'clock." Use 接近 or 快到 for that. Also, avoid using it for abstract concepts. You aren't "near" a solution using 附近. It is strictly for physical space and geography. Think of it like a physical GPS, not a metaphorical one.

Many people say 附近学校 when they mean "near the school." This is the English word order. In Chinese, the specific place comes first. It should be 学校附近. Another mistake is forgetting the 的. If you want to say "nearby park," use 附近的公园. Without 的, it sounds like a broken robot. Also, don't confuse 附近 with 近. 近 is an adjective (close). 附近 is a noun (vicinity). You can say 离这儿很近, but not 离这儿很附近. That is a classic grammar traffic light you don't want to run.

附近 vs 旁边 (pángbiān): 旁边 means "next to." It implies a very short distance. 附近 is a larger area. If a store is 旁边, you can see it. If it is 附近, you might need to walk five minutes.

附近 vs 周围 (zhōuwéi): 周围 means "all around" or "surrounding." It feels like a 360-degree circle. 附近 is just the general neighborhood. Use 周围 for scenery or environment. Use 附近 for convenience and locations.