Expressing "within" a period of time using "zai... nei"

Saying "在 (a period of time) 内" may sound a bit redundant, since 在 means "in" and 内 means "within" or "inside," but it is a commonly used "sandwich pattern" which means "within (a period of time)."

Structure

在 + (a period of time) + 内

The period of time in this structure can be a clear-cut indicator of time (days, months, years) or it can be a more vague indicator of time (short amount of time, a lifetime, etc.).

Examples

• 在 短短 的 两 年 内，他 就 成为 了 CEO。Zài duǎnduǎn de liǎng nián nèi, tā jiù chéngwéi le CEO.In just two years, he has become the CEO.
• 政府 计划 在 十年 内 研究 出 电动 汽车。Zhèngfǔ jìhuà zài shí nián nèi yánjiū chū diàndòng qìchē.The government plans to develop an electric car within ten years.
• 在 两个 月 内，她 就 长胖 了 10斤。 10斤 = 5kgZài liǎng gè yuè nèi, tā jiù zhǎngpàng le shí jīn.In two months, she gained 11 pounds.
• 在 未来 两 个 月 内，这 款 游戏 会 上市。Zài wèilái liǎng gè yuè nèi, zhè kuǎn yóuxì huì shàngshì.In the next two months, this game will be on the market.
• 世界 在 短短 一 个 月 的 时间 内 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Shìjiè zài duǎnduǎn yī gè yuè de shíjiān nèi fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.The world has changed dramatically in just one month's time.
• 你 在 一 个 小时 内 吃 了 两次 饭，你 这么 饿 吗？Nǐ zài yī gè xiǎoshí nèi chī le liǎng cì fàn, nǐ zhème è ma?You ate twice in one hour. Are you really that hungry?
• 我 在 短短 的 半小时 内 接到 了 10 个 电话。Wǒ zài duǎnduǎn de bàn xiǎoshí nèi jiēdào le shí gè diànhuà.I received 10 calls in just half an hour.
• 你 要 在 一个半 小时 内 到 上海。Nǐ yào zài yī gè bàn xiǎoshí nèi dào Shànghǎi.You have to be in Shanghai within an hour and a half.
• 这个 比赛 在 30 分钟 内 进球 就 赢 了。Zhège bǐsài zài sānshí fēnzhōng nèi jìnqiú jiù yíng le.This match will be over if we can score within the next 30 minutes.
• 在 未来 三 年 内，我 希望 能 考过 HSK5。Zài wèilái sān nián nèi, wǒ xīwàng néng kǎo guò HSK wǔ.In the next three years, I hope to pass HSK 5.

See Also

• Expressing existence in a place with "zai"
• Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"
• Indicating location with "zai" before verbs

Sources and further reading

Books

• Anything Goes (无所不谈) (pp. 117) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK5