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处在 (chǔ zài) — to be in (a certain condition or situation)

Definition

处在 is a written, formal verb meaning 'to be in (a state/situation)', used for abstract conditions (困难境地, 危险局面) rather than physical location. Contrast with 在: 处在 foregrounds the condition, not where something is.

verb
to be in (a certain condition or situation)

Examples

  • 处在。
    Tā xiàn zài chǔ zài yí gè fēi cháng kùn nan de jìng dì.
    He is currently in a very difficult situation.
  • 处在。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī chǔ zài pò chǎn de biān yuán.
    This company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
  • ，处在。
    Zài zhè zhǒng shí hou, wǒ men chǔ zài shí fēn wēi xiǎn de jú miàn.
    At such a time, we are in a very dangerous situation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

处chùbe situated
在zàibe located

处 and 在 both convey being located or situated, so together they mean to be in a condition.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →
Appears in
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