Definition
在 (zài) has three main uses: as a verb meaning 'to be at' (我在家), as a preposition meaning 'at/in/on' (在学校), and as an adverb placed before a verb to mark an ongoing action (在吃饭). For the ongoing-action sense, 正在 (zhèng zài) is more emphatic, meaning 'right in the process of' — use 在 for general progress and 正在 when you want to stress the exact moment.
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
- 宰zǎisound-aliketo slaughter, to butcher (an animal)
- 塌tālook-aliketo collapse (of structures, etc.)
- 栽zāisound-aliketo plant; to grow
- 至zhìlook-alike(verb, literary) to arrive
- 灾zāisound-alikedisaster, calamity
- 场chǎnglook-alike(classifier) used for performances, sports matches, and other public events
Examples
- 。Wǒ zài jiā.I am at home.
- 在。Tā zài xuéxiào gōngzuò.He works at school.
- 在。Tā zài chī fàn.He is eating.
Grammar
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