在 (zài) — (verb) to be (located) at; to exist; to be alive; (preposition) at; in; on (indicates location or time); (adverb) used before a verb to mark ongoing action
Definition
在 covers three jobs: locative verb ('be at/in'), preposition for time or place, and progressive marker before a verb (他∼吃饭 = 'is eating'). 正在 is a stronger, more explicit progressive marker; 存 and 存在 are more abstract 'to exist'.
verb
to be (located) atto existto be alive
preposition
atinon (indicates location or time)
adverb
used before a verb to mark ongoing action
Easily confused
- 堂tánglook-alike(noun) hall, large room for a specific purpose
- 再zàisound-alikeagain; once more
- 塞sāilook-alike(verb) to stuff, to squeeze in; to block, to stop up
- 塌tālook-aliketo collapse (of structures, etc.)
- 至zhìlook-alike(verb, literary) to arrive
- 场chǎnglook-alike(classifier) used for performances, sports matches, and other public events
Examples
- 。Wǒ zài jiā.I am at home.
- 在。Tā zài xué xiào gōng zuò.He works at school.
- 在。Tā zài chī fàn.He is eating.
Grammar
Appears in
Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.