在 zài at
at; in; ongoing action
How to remember 在: 才 only just + 土 earth = at. The kid has only just started digging in the earth when he finds a gold coin and shouts "It was right here at the old oak!"
Component breakdown
在 = 才 only just + 土 earth
- 才 only just
- 土 earth
The kid has only just started digging in the earth when he finds a gold coin and shouts "It was right here at the old oak!"
How it is used
- Two jobs: at / in a place - 在家 (zài jiā) at home - and, before a verb, in the middle of - 在吃饭 (zài chīfàn) eating right now.
- As a location word it needs a place after it; the progressive 在 often pairs with 正 - 正在下雨 (zhèngzài xià yǔ) it's raining.
Words with 在
- 正在zhèngzàiin the process of (doing something)HSK 1
- 现在xiànzàinowHSK 1
- 实在shízàihonestHSK 4
- 在乎zàihuto rest withHSK 5
- 在于zàiyúto rest withHSK 5
- 在内zàinèiin itHSK 5
- 在场zàichǎngto be presentHSK 5
- 在线zàixiànonlineHSK 5
- 存在cúnzàito existHSK 5
- 在意zàiyìto care aboutHSK 6
- 内在nèizàiinnerHSK 7
- 在所难免zàisuǒnánmiǎnto be unavoidable (idiom)HSK 7
- 在职zàizhíto be employedHSK 7
- 外在wàizàiexternalHSK 7
- 好在hǎozàiluckilyHSK 7
- 所在suǒzàiplaceHSK 7
- 自在zìzaicomfortableHSK 7
- 旨在zhǐzàito have as its purposeHSK 8
- 潜在qiánzàihiddenHSK 9
Example sentences
- 她在中间。 Tā zài zhōngjiān.She's in the middle.
- 她在吃饭吗？ Tā zài chīfàn ma?Is she eating now?
- 你在想什么？ Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme?What are you thinking about?
- 外面在下雨。 Wàimian zài xiàyǔ.It's raining outside.