guìtái zài nàbiān.

to be at

Breakdown of guìtái zài nàbiān.

• 那边nàbiān: there
• 柜台guìtái: service counter

Questions & Answers about guìtái zài nàbiān.

Why is 在 used here?

In this sentence, 在 means to be located at / to be in / to be at.

So 柜台在那边 means the counter is located over there.

This is one of the most basic ways to say where something is in Chinese:

thing + 在 + place

Examples:

• 书在桌子上。 = The book is on the table.
• 洗手间在那边。 = The restroom is over there.

Why doesn’t Chinese use 是 here for is?

Because 是 is usually used to connect one noun to another noun, like A is B.

Examples:

• 我是老师。 = I am a teacher.
• 这是柜台。 = This is the counter.

But for location, Chinese normally uses 在, not 是.

So:

• 柜台在那边。 = correct
• 柜台是那边。 = not correct for location

What is the basic word order of this sentence?