Sunday, September 10, 2017

syntax - Ways to specify "intra-" or "extra-" usage of 北・南・東・西


I Was trying to describe that a certain castle was located south of Kyoto, I would expect the phrase to be:


「伏見桃山城が京都の南にある。」


I was then thinking, how would I say that it is in Kyoto, but the southern part of Kyoto.


For example, in English there isn't exactly a rule that applies 100% to a specific phrase, but the syntax does differentiate the two meanings:



It is located ...



  • in the South of France (1)


  • to the south of France (2)

  • south of France (2)

  • in southern France (1)

  • to France's south (2)


(1) denotes inside France, (2) denotes outside of France



What ways are there in Japanese to specify what I am calling "intra-" vs. "extra-" usage of cardinal directions?



Answer



Place + の + 東/西/南/北 + にある is indeed ambiguous, but you can usually determine the meaning in one way with the aid of the context and some background knowledge:




  • 伏見桃山城は京都の南にある。
    Fushimi-Momoyama Castle is in the South of Kyoto.

  • 奈良県は京都の南にある。
    Nara Prefecture is located to the south of Kyoto.


If you want to avoid any confusion, you can say:



  • Xは京都の南部にある。: inside Kyoto
    (Keep の if you want to say this generally; see this.)


  • Xは京都の南の端にある。: inside Kyoto

  • Xは京都の中で南の方にある。: inside Kyoto
    (sounds wordy, use as a last resort)

  • Xは京都の南に接している。: outside but adjacent to Kyoto

  • Xは京都のはるか南にある。: outside and far away from Kyoto

  • Xは京都の南にある町の中にある。: outside Kyoto


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