subject + (negation) + 在 (zài) + location/time + verb + (object)
Mandarin Chinese Articles
How to use 在 (zài) in Mandarin Chinese?
By: Thu Jan 04 2024
Mandarin chineseAdverbs
在 (zài) is one of the most commonly used words in Mandarin, and it can be used as a prepositionNo definition set for prepositionLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. to indicate locations and times or as a verbNo definition set for verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. to express actions in progress or to indicate the existence of being in a place.
Example 1
我在教室看书。
(Wǒ zài jiàoshì kànshū. )
I am reading in the classroom.
Example 2
他在早上游泳。
(Tā zài zǎoshang yóuyǒng.)
He swims in the morning.
Example 3
妈妈在做饭。
(Māma zài zuòfàn.)
Mom is cooking.
Example 4
今天老板在公司吗？
(Jīntiān lǎobǎn zài gōngsī ma? )
Is the boss in the company today?
In examples 1 and 2 above, 在 (zài) is used as a preposition to express location (在教室 (zài jiàoshì, in the classroom)) and time (在早上 (zài zǎoshang, in the morning)). In examples 3 and 4, 在 (zài) is used as a verb to express the action in progress (在做饭 (zài zuòfàn, is cooking)) and the existence in a place (在公司 (zài gōngsī, is in the company)).
After reading this post, you will find out more details on how to use 在 (zài) as a preposition form, as well as a verb form. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
How to use 在 (zài) as a preposition in Mandarin Chinese?
When 在 (zài) is used as a preposition, it is often followed by a location or a time to indicate where and/or when an action takes place. It is the equivalent of “in, at, on” in English. 在 together with the location or time form what is called “prepositional phrase.”
When to use 在 (zài) with a prepositional phrase before the verb?
Preposition 在 (zài) is followed by a location or time phrase, and it is always placed after the subject and before the verb. In a negative sentence, we simply add 不 (bù), 没 (méi) or 别 (bié) before the 在 (zài) phrase. Let’s look at the following examples:
我姐姐在上海工作。
(Wǒ jiějie zài shànghǎi gōngzuò.)
My older sister works in Shanghai.
他不在晚上上班。
(Tā bù zài wǎnshang shàngbān.)
He doesn’t work at night.
你们别在这家中餐馆吃饺子。
(Nǐmen bié zài zhèjiā zhōngcānguǎn chī jiǎozi.)
Don’t eat dumplings in that Chinese restaurant.
Important
在 (zài) + location/time has to be placed before the action verbNo definition set for action verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. Unlike in English, it cannot be placed at the end of the sentence.
O 我姐姐在上海工作。
(Wǒ jiějie zài shànghǎi gōngzuò.)
(lit.) My older sister in Shanghai works.
When a modal or mental verb in Mandarin Chinese, such as 想 (xiǎng, want to), 愿意 (yuànyì, be willing to), 能 (néng, can), 可以 (kěyǐ, be allowed to), or 该 (gāi, should) is used, then the prepositional 在 (zài) phrase is like below. Please note that in this case only the negative adverb 不 (bù) can be used.
subject + (negation) + modal/mental word + 在 (zài) + location/time + verb + (object)
他们想在图书馆看书。
(Tāmen xiǎng zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.)
They want to read books in the library.
你们不应该在半夜大吼大叫。
(Nǐmen bù yīnggāi zài bànyè dàhǒudàjiào.)
You should not scream at midnight.
When to use 在 (zài) with a prepositional phrase after the verb?
There are some verbs that carry the meaning of certain movements, such as 放 (fàng, to put), or of locations, like 住 (zhù, to live), 坐 (zuò, to sit), and 站 (zhàn, to stand), and these can also go with a 在 (zài) phrase. However, the sentence order changes in these cases and the 在 (zài) phrase is placed after the verb.
subject + (negation) + (modal/mental verb) + 住 (zhù) / 放 (fàng) / 坐 (zuò) / 站 (zhàn) + 在 (zài) + location
他想住在城市里。
(Tā xiǎng zhù zài chéngshì lǐ.)
He wants to live in the city.
台灯放在桌子上。
(Táidēng fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.)
The lamp stands on the table.
你坐在树下。
(Nǐ zuò zài shù xià.)
You sit under the tree.
你们别站在马路中间。
(Nǐmen bié zhàn zài mǎlù zhōngjiān.)
Don’t stand in the middle of the road.
Have you noticed that in this pattern, when the 在 (zài) phrase is used with these certain verbs (放 (fàng, to put), 住 (zhù, to live), 坐 (zuò, to sit), 站 (zhàn, to stand)), 在 (zài) is used in the following constructions:
- 在...里 (zài... lǐ, in)
- 在...上 (zài... shàng, on)
- 在...下 (zài... xià, under)
- 在...中间 (zài... zhōngjiān, in)
These constructions can express a literal meaning, as well as an extended meaning. Check out our post on prepositional phrases in Mandarin Chinese to learn more about these constructions.
How to use 在 (zài) as a verb in Mandarin Chinese?
在 (zài) is also a verb, and it can be used to indicate existence in a place or an action in progress. Let’s explore.
How to use 在 (zài) to express existence in a place?
在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place, conveying the meaning of “be in/at/on…” Look at this example:
我在学校 。
(Wǒ zài xuéxiào. )
I am at school.
We can see the basic pattern is: subject + 在 (zài) + location. 在 (zài) is the only verb needed here. In a negation, we add 不 (bù, not) / 没 (méi, not) before the verb 在 (zài).
subject + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + 在 (zài, be at/in/on) + location
妈妈今天在家。
(Māma jīntian zài jiā.)
Mom is at home today.
我这个星期三不在办公室。
(Wǒ zhège xīngqī sān bú zài bàngōngshì.)
I am not in the office this Wednesday.
老板现在在公司吗？
(Lǎobǎn xiànzài zài gōngsī ma?)
Is the boss in the company now?
Important
在 (zài) expresses the meaning of “be in/at/on,” so there is no need to add 是 (shì, be) in the sentence.
O 他在咖啡馆。
(Tā zài kāfēi guǎn.)
He is in the cafe.
X 他是在咖啡馆。
(Tā shì zài kāfēi guǎn.)
He is in the cafe.
How to use 在 (zài) to express an action in progress?
在 (zài) can be used as an auxiliary verbNo definition set for auxiliary verbLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., and it is often placed before an action verb to indicate an action that is in process or is happening. This way, it is equivalent to a continuous tense in English.
Sometimes in a affirmative sentence, 在 (zài) is also used as 正在 (zhèngzài) which is more formal than 在 (zài). As for negation, 正在 (zhèngzài) is not used. We add 没 (méi, not) or 不 (bù, not) before the auxiliary verb 在 (zài). 没 (méi, not) is more commonly used, though.
subject + (negation) + 在 (zài) / 正在 (zhèngzài) + location/time + verb + (object)
我在 / 正在看书。
(Wǒ zài / zhèngzài kàn shū.)
I am reading.
他没 / 不在做作业。
(Tā méi / bù zài zuò zuòyè.)
He is not doing homework.
你们在 / 正在上课吗？
(Nǐmen zài / zhèngzài shàng kè ma?)
Are you having class?
In another post, we discussed a highly functional particle word 呢 (ne). In this present progressive, or continuous, tense using 在 (zài) / 正在 (zhèngzài), this pattern can be used with a less formal and shorter pattern by adding 呢 (ne) at the end of the sentence.
subject + 在 (zài) / 正在 (zhèngzài) + verb + object
=
subject + verb + object + 呢 (ne)
我正在吃晚饭。= 我吃晚饭呢。
(Wǒ zhèngzài chī wǎnfàn. = Wǒ chī wǎnfàn ne.)
I am having dinner.
他们在上汉语课。= 他们上汉语课呢。
(Tāmen zài shàng hànyǔ kè. = Tāmen shàng hànyǔ kè ne.)
They are having Chinese class.
How to use 在 (zài) as both a preposition and a verb in Mandarin Chinese?
When a verb with 在 (zài) expressing an action in progress and the preposition 在 (zài) are needed in a sentence, only the preposition 在 (zài) is used.
Let’s suppose we need to say this in Mandarin: “I am reading in the library.” Have you noticed that in this sentence, there is an action in progress (“am reading”) which is the equivalent of 在 (zài) expressing a present progressive, or continuous, tense. In addition, there is also a prepositional phrase (“in the library”), which requires the preposition 在 (zài) followed by a location.
In the case of a sentence like the one above, only the preposition 在 (zài) is used. As we discussed earlier about 在 (zài) as a preposition, the same pattern is used: place the 在 (zài) + location (in the library) after the subject (I) and before the verb (read). In a negative sentence, we add 没 (méi, not) or 不 (bù, not) before the preposition phrase 在 (zài) + location. Even though the same pattern is applied here, the meaning of the sentence will focus more on the action in progress. To avoid ambiguity, you can add a time phrase in the beginning of the sentence, but it is not obligatory.
Here’s the formula:
(time phrase) + subject + (negation) + 在 (zài) + location + verb + object
现在她没 / 不在厨房做饭。
(Xiànzài tā méi / bù zài chúfáng zuò fàn.)
She is not cooking in the kitchen right now.
今早我在办公室打电话。
(Jīnzǎo wǒ zài bàngōngshì dǎ diànhuà.)
I was making a phone call in the office this morning.
我在咖啡馆等你呢。
(Wǒ zài kāfēiguǎn děng nǐ ne.)
I am waiting for you in the cafe.
To sum up
在 (zài) is used as a preposition to express locations or times (the equivalent of “in/at/on” in English) and as a verb to indicate existence in a place (be in/at) or an action in progress.
When 在 (zài) is a preposition:
他爸爸在中国教书。
(Tā bàba zài zhōngguó jiāoshū.)
His dad teaches in China.
我坐在树荫下。
(Wǒ zuò zài shùyīn xià.)
I sit under the tree shade.
他们不想住在农村。
(Tāmen bùxiǎng zhù zài nóngcūn.)
They don't want to live in the countryside.
When 在 (zài) is used as a verb to indicate existence in a place (be in/at):
今天妈妈不在家。
(Jīntiān māma bù zài jiā.)
Mom is not home today.
你们在咖啡馆吗？
(Nǐmen zài kāfēiguǎn ma?)
Are you in the cafe?
When 在 (zài) is used as a verb for an action in progress:
你们在吃晚饭吗？
(Nǐmen zài chī wǎnfàn ma?)
Are you having dinner?
他们没在看电视。
(Tāmen méi zài kàn diànshì.)
They are not watching TV.
When 在 (zài) functions as a verb, as well as a preposition:
今早我没在学校上课。
(Jīnzǎo wǒ méi zài xuéxiào shàngkè.)
I was not having classes at school this morning.
这个月哥哥在美国度假。
(Zhège yuè gēge zài měiguó dùjià.)
(My) older brother is having a vacation in the US this month.
Do you want to practice using 在 (zài) with our exercises?
Downloadable Resources
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How to use 在 (zài) in Mandarin Chinese~Activities
