noun (locative) HSK 3
Traditional 屋裡
inside the room · indoors · in the house
Meaning
屋里 is a common locative noun meaning 'inside the room' or 'indoors.' It combines 屋 (house/room) with 里 (inside), and is used to indicate the interior space of a building or room. This word is frequently used in everyday conversation when talking about being inside versus outside.
Usage
Native speakers use 屋里 naturally when contrasting indoor and outdoor locations, or when describing where something is located or where an action takes place inside a building. It's neutral in register and commonly paired with verbs like 在 (to be at) or directional verbs. The opposite is 屋外 (outside the house).
Examples
- 01外面太冷了，我们进屋里吧。, .It's too cold outside, let's go inside.
- 02屋里有人吗？?Is anyone inside?
Characters
Common collocations
- 在屋里to be inside (the room/house)
- 屋里屋外inside and outside, everywhere
- 进屋里to enter the room
Antonyms
Origin
屋 originally depicted a roof over a dwelling, while 里 means 'inside' or 'within.' Together they form a compound indicating the interior space of a structure.