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在zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at

HSK 1word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

在 (zài) means "to be at" or "to be in" a place, and it can also mark where an action happens or that an action is in progress. For location, use Subject + 在 + Place, without adding 是. Before a verb it can mean "at/in" a place of action, or "be ...-ing."

What does 在 mean?

  1. 1.

    (of sb or sth) to be (located) atverb

  2. 2.

    at; in (location of an action)preposition

  3. 3.

    used before a verb to indicate an action in progressadverb

What does the character 在 mean?

  • 在(of sb or sth) to be (located) at

How do you use 在?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    Subj. + 在 + Place

    Use 在 alone to say someone or something is at a place. Do not add 是.

  2. 2

    Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb (+ Obj.)

    Put 在 + place before the verb to say where the action happens.

  3. 3

    Subj. + 在 + Verb (+ Obj.)

    Put 在 before a verb to say the action is in progress (be …-ing).

在 often appears before a place or before a verb; for simple location it is the whole predicate, so another 是 is not needed.

Patterns

  • 在 + Place + 上 / 里

    书在桌子上。

    Shū zài zhuōzi shàng.

    The book is on the table.

  • 在 + Verb

    妈妈在打电话。

    Māma zài dǎ diànhuà.

    Mom is making a phone call.

What are some examples of 在 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 1

    我在上海。

    Wǒ zài Shànghǎi.

    I'm in Shanghai.

  2. HSK 1

    他不在学校。

    Tā bú zài xuéxiào.

    He's not at school.

  3. HSK 2

    我周末想在家睡觉。

    Wǒ zhōumò xiǎng zài jiā shuìjiào.

    On the weekend I want to sleep at home.

  4. HSK 1

    她在看书。

    Tā zài kàn shū.

    She is reading.

How is 在 different from 是?

在 marks location or progressive action. 是 links two nouns for identity. Saying 我是上海 is wrong when you mean "I am in Shanghai."

Only 在 fits here

我在上海。

Wǒ zài Shànghǎi.

I'm in Shanghai.

How is 在 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    你在哪儿？

    Nǐ zài nǎr?

    Where are you?

  2. Speaker B:

    我在家。

    Wǒ zài jiā.

    I'm at home.

  3. Speaker A:

    你在做什么？

    Nǐ zài zuò shénme?

    What are you doing?

  4. Speaker B:

    我在看书。

    Wǒ zài kàn shū.

    I'm reading.

  5. Speaker A:

    明天你在北京吗？

    Míngtiān nǐ zài Běijīng ma?

    Will you be in Beijing tomorrow?

  6. Speaker B:

    在，我在北京工作。

    Zài, wǒ zài Běijīng gōngzuò.

    Yes, I work in Beijing.

Can you use 在 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 我___上海。
  2. 2.Fill in the blank: 她___看书。
  3. 3.Which sentence is correct for location?

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.