方位介词辨异

下面的图流传甚广，但也并非全部，比如-neath后缀介词其实并未囊其中，更为重要的是，这样的理解也是较为生硬和刻板的，也即其实这样的解释隐藏了丰富而细腻的用法：

under、below、beneath、underneath

• under

  Compared to “below”, “under” is more often used to talk about 3-dimensional objects. For example, you’d talk about something being under a table, under a book, etc.
  “Under” is also good for talking about layers of something:

  I have on a t-shirt under my jacket.
  

  You can use “under” for numbers:

  I did it in under 7 hours.
  We were able to raise just under fifteen thousand dollars.
  

• Below

  Compared to “under”, you use “below” more often to talk about the level of something on a flat plane. For example, if you’re describing two photos that hang on a wall, you can say that one of them is “below” the other.
  Use “below” to talk about the level of something, like a temperature:

  It's supposed to drop below freezing tonight. 
  

  In writing, you can use “below” to talk about something later on:

  Please read the instructions below before you begin.

The opposite of “below” is “above”.

• Beneath

  “Beneath” is more formal than “under”:

  In the unlikely event of an emergency water landing, you may find a flotation device beneath your seat cushion.
  

  It can also suggest being covered by something:

  beneath the blankets
  beneath the surface of the water
  

  When you’re talking about someone’s actions or decisions, you use “beneath” to talk about the true emotions that a person is hiding:

  Beneath it all, he still loves her.
  

  When you’re talking about human relationships, being “beneath” someone is very negative. Things or people that are “beneath” you are disgusting. They’re too low for someone with your social position:

  She acts like some kind of princess, like we're all beneath her.
  

• underneath

  “Underneath” has a kind of casual and expressive feeling. You can choose “underneath” instead of “under” to explain the location of something with a little more emphasis.

  A: You found it! Where was it?
  
  B: It was underneath the sofa.
  

  Think of “underneath” as a more emotional, exciting version of “under”.