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

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在 (zài).jpeg

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

  • 短短 的 两 年 ,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 十年 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.
  • 两个 月 ,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.
  • 未来 两 个 月 ,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 短短 一 个 月 的 时间 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.
  • 一 个 小时 吃 了 两次 饭,你 这么 饿 吗?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?
  • 短短 的 半小时 接到 了 10 个 电话。zài duǎnduǎn de bàn xiǎoshí nèi jiēdào le shí gè diànhuà.I received 10 calls in just half an hour.
  • 你 要 一个半 小时 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 30 分钟 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.
  • 未来 三 年 ,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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5