dedans/də.dɑ̃/
adverb / noun / preposition · A2 · Frequency 860
adverb
Meanings
inside
Adverb indicating spatial internal direction or position. Commonly used in both spoken and written language.
Examples
Pousse la chaise dedans pour libérer le passage.
Push the chair inside to clear the passage.
Il pleut dehors, mais les enfants jouent tranquillement dedans.
It is raining outside, but the children are playing quietly inside.
La boîte est vide, pourtant je suis certain d'avoir laissé les clés dedans.
The box is empty, yet I am sure I left the keys inside.
Collocations
- regarder dedansto look inside
Common mistakes
Je mets le livre dedans la boîte.
Je mets le livre dans la boîte.
dedans is normally an adverb and cannot directly precede a noun to mean “in”; use dans in this position.
Related words
nounmasculine
Meanings
interior, inside (of an object)
Indicates the internal space or position of an object; commonly used in both spoken and written language.
Examples
Le dedans du coffre est tapissé de feutre.
The inside of the chest is lined with felt.
Le dedans du sac est doublé de tissu bleu.
The inside of the bag is lined with blue fabric.
Le dedans de la maison reste frais en été.
The inside of the house stays cool in summer.
Collocations
- le dedans d’une boîtethe inside of a box
Common mistakes
dedans (用作副词时)
dedans (用作名词时)
‘dedans’ is commonly used as an adverb meaning 'inside', but when used as a noun, pay attention to its gender and usage.
dedans (发音为/dedɑ̃/)
/də.dɑ̃/
Pronunciation error; the correct IPA is /də.dɑ̃/.
Related words
synonymintérieurinterior, inside
- antonymdehorsoutside
preposition
Meanings
inside, in, within
Used as a preposition indicating location inside something, common in both spoken and written language.
Examples
Il fait froid dehors, alors viens te réchauffer dedans.
It's cold outside, so come warm up inside.
Le chat est caché dedans la boîte en carton.
The cat is hidden inside the cardboard box.
Collocations
- regarder dedansto look inside
- mettre dedansto put inside
- rentrer dedansto go inside
Common mistakes
Je suis dedans la maison.
Je suis dans la maison.
The preposition 'dedans' cannot be directly combined with the definite article to indicate location; the correct usage is 'dans la maison'.
Il est dedans de la boîte.
Il est dedans la boîte.
The preposition 'dedans' is not followed by 'de'; it is directly followed by the noun.