Question

When is 边/面/头 optional in 前边，后边，上边，下边，里边，外边，or 旁边? Yufa 42

Accepted Answer

When the position word is the focus, what preceedes the position word is a regular noun, not a measure word or a pronoun, and 的 must also then be omitted桌子（的）上边 = 桌子上 = 桌上厨房（的）里边 = 厨房里教室（的）旁边 = 教室旁

Front	When is 边/面/头 optional in 前边，后边，上边，下边，里边，外边，or 旁边?
Back	When the position word is the focus, what preceedes the position word is a regular noun, not a measure word or a pronoun, and 的 must also then be omitted 桌子（的）上边 = 桌子上 = 桌上厨房（的）里边 = 厨房里教室（的）旁边 = 教室旁
Page	Yufa 42

Word Position 边/面/头 Optional 前边，后边，上边，下边，里边，外边，Or 旁边 Focus Preceedes