Yínháng zài wǒ gōngsī fùjìn.

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Questions & Answers about Yínháng zài wǒ gōngsī fùjìn.

What is the basic grammar pattern being used here?

It’s the location pattern: Subject + 在 + Location.

  • 银行 (the subject) + (locative verb/preposition “at/in”) + 我公司附近 (the location, with 附近 “vicinity” as a location noun).
  • This pattern states where a known subject is.
Do I need 的 between 我 and 公司? Are 我公司, 我的公司, and 我们公司 all okay?
  • 我公司: grammatical but formal/business style (“our company” in corporate writing). Common in formal Mainland/Taiwan contexts; a bit stiff in casual speech.
  • 我的公司: literally “my company,” often implying ownership. It can mean “the company associated with me,” but many speakers avoid it for “my employer” to prevent the ownership implication.
  • 我们公司: the most natural everyday way to say “my company (where I work).” So in conversation, 银行在我们公司附近 is most idiomatic. If you truly own the company, 银行在我的公司附近 is perfect.
Can I say 公司的附近?

Normally no. Use 公司附近 (no ) because 附近 functions as a location word after a noun. Add only when the phrase modifies a following noun:

  • 公司附近的银行 = “the bank(s) near the company.”
What’s the difference between 附近 and 旁边? Which one should I use?
  • 附近 (fùjìn) = “nearby; in the vicinity” (same general area; not necessarily adjacent).
  • 旁边 (pángbiān) = “right next to; beside” (immediate adjacency). Use 附近 for general nearness: 银行在我公司附近. Use 旁边 if it’s truly next door: 银行在我公司旁边 (also 旁边儿/边上 in northern speech).
Could I rephrase it with 离 to express distance?

Yes. Use A 离 B 很近/不远:

  • 银行离我公司很近 (“The bank is very close to my company.”)
  • 银行离我公司不远 (“The bank isn’t far from my company.”) This emphasizes distance, while 在…附近 emphasizes location.
How do I say “There is a bank near my company” (introducing existence), not locating a specific bank?

Use the existential pattern 在 + Location + 有 + N:

  • 在我公司附近有一家银行。 Or without 在:
  • 我公司附近有银行。 Include a classifier to be specific: 一家银行 (“a bank”).
Is 在 a verb or a preposition here? Why not use 是?

functions as a locative verb/preposition meaning “to be at/in.” Chinese doesn’t use to link a noun to a location, so you say 银行在…, not 银行是…. You can use 是在… only for contrast/emphasis:

  • 银行是在我公司附近,不是在学校附近。
Should I add 里 or 边 after 附近 (e.g., 附近里, 附近边)?
No. 附近 already means “the vicinity” and stands alone: 公司附近. Don’t attach 里/边 to 附近. (With other location words you might add parts like 旁边/里面/外面, but not with 附近.)
How do I pronounce 行 in 银行? Is it xíng or háng?
In 银行, is háng (second tone). Use xíng when it means “to be OK; to do” (e.g., 行吗?) or in verbs like 进行 (jìnxíng).
What measure words should I use with 银行 and 公司?
  • 一家银行 / 一家公司 are the most natural.
  • (一个公司) appears in casual speech but is less precise.
  • 一间公司 is also heard regionally; for banks, is standard.
Any tone-sandhi or pronunciation gotchas in this sentence?
  • Third-tone sandhi: a third tone becomes second only before another third. That doesn’t occur here, so 我 (wǒ) stays third.
  • 附近 is two fourth tones (fùjìn), and is fourth tone (zài).
How can I emphasize that it’s right nearby?

Add before the location:

  • 银行就在我公司附近。 (“The bank is right near my company.”) You can also use the distance pattern: 银行离我公司很近.
Is 银行在我公司附近 natural in everyday speech?
Yes, but it sounds formal because of 我公司. In casual speech, 银行在我们公司附近 is more natural.
Can I front the location for emphasis or as a topic?

Yes. Topic-fronting is common:

  • 在我公司附近,银行很方便。
  • Or the existential form: 在我公司附近有银行。 Avoid ungrammatical orders like 我公司附近在银行. The core patterns are N 在 Location and 在 Location 有 N.