Describe the boundaries of where one comes from using the four cardinal directions

To say where you come from using cardinal directions, use this sentence structure:

I come from the [direction] side of [place].

In Chinese:

Wǒ láizì [place] [direction]biān.

Examples:

• Wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà dōngbiān. → I come from the east side of Tanzania.

• Wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà xībiān. → I come from the west side of Tanzania.

• Wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà běibiān. → I come from the north side of Tanzania.

• Wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà nánbiān. → I come from the south side of Tanzania.

You can also say where you do NOT come from by adding 不 (bù) before 来自:

• Wǒ bùshì láizì běibiān, wǒ láizì nánbiān. → I am not from the north side, I come from the south side.

From the textbook, here is how Xiao Ming describes his classmate:

Wǒ zài Zhōngguó de xībiān. Wǒ de tóngzhuō jiào Mǎlì, tā láizì Měiguó. Tāmen jiā zài Měiguó de nánbiān.

Translation: I am on the west side of China. My desk mate is called Mary, she comes from America. Their home is on the south side of America.

Try to read and understand these sentences:

1. Wǒ shì Tǎnsāngníyàrén, wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà dōngbiān. → I am Tanzanian, I come from the east side of Tanzania.

2. Wǒ de péngyou láizì Tǎnsāngníyà běibiān. → My friend comes from the north side of Tanzania.

3. Tā bàba zài Tǎnsāngníyà xībiān gōngzuò. → Her father works on the west side of Tanzania.

4. Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Wǒ shì Zhōngguórén. → Which country are you from? I am Chinese.

• 来自 (láizì) means "to come from"
• The word 边 (biān) means "side" and follows the direction word
• Always put the place first, then the direction: Tǎnsāngníyà dōngbiān (Tanzania east side)

In everyday life in Tanzania, you can use these phrases when meeting new people. For example, if you are from Mwanza and someone asks where you come from, you can say "Wǒ láizì Tǎnsāngníyà nánbiān" (I come from the south side of Tanzania) because Mwanza is located in the southern region near Lake Victoria. This helps you describe your home location clearly using the cardinal directions.