Difference between revisions of "Indicating location with "zai" before verbs"
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* 我 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong> 上大学。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> <strong>Shànghǎi</strong> gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">I am working in Shanghai.</span> | * 我 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong> 上大学。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> <strong>Shànghǎi</strong> gōngzuò.</span> <span class="trans">I am working in Shanghai.</span> | ||
| − | * | + | * 爸爸 一直 <em>在</em> <strong>这 家 公司</strong> 工作 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> <strong>jiǔbā</strong> hē jiǔ.</span> <span class="trans">I am drinking at the bar.</span> |
* 不 要 <em>在</em> <strong>床 上</strong> 吃 东西。 <span class="expl">need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed".</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào <em>zài</em> <strong>chuáng shàng</strong> chī dōngxī.</span> <span class="trans">Don't eat food on the bed.</span> | * 不 要 <em>在</em> <strong>床 上</strong> 吃 东西。 <span class="expl">need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed".</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào <em>zài</em> <strong>chuáng shàng</strong> chī dōngxī.</span> <span class="trans">Don't eat food on the bed.</span> | ||
* 我 想 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 开 一 个 派对。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā</strong> kāi yī gè pàiduì.</span> <span class="trans">I want to have a party at my home.</span> | * 我 想 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 开 一 个 派对。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā</strong> kāi yī gè pàiduì.</span> <span class="trans">I want to have a party at my home.</span> | ||
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* 很 多 人 <em>在</em> <strong>地铁 上</strong> 吃 早饭。 <span class="expl">need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway".</span><span class="pinyin">Hěn duō rén <em>zài</em> <strong>dìtiě shàng</strong> chī bāozi.</span> <span class="trans"> Many people eat baozi while on the subway.</span> | * 很 多 人 <em>在</em> <strong>地铁 上</strong> 吃 早饭。 <span class="expl">need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway".</span><span class="pinyin">Hěn duō rén <em>zài</em> <strong>dìtiě shàng</strong> chī bāozi.</span> <span class="trans"> Many people eat baozi while on the subway.</span> | ||
* 现在 我们 <em>在</em> <strong>KTV</strong> 唱歌。 <span class="pinyin">Xiànzài wǒmen <em>zài</em> <strong>KTV</strong> chàng gē.</span> <span class="trans">Now we're at KTV singing songs.</span> | * 现在 我们 <em>在</em> <strong>KTV</strong> 唱歌。 <span class="pinyin">Xiànzài wǒmen <em>zài</em> <strong>KTV</strong> chàng gē.</span> <span class="trans">Now we're at KTV singing songs.</span> | ||
| − | * 老板 <em>在</em> <strong> | + | * 老板 <em>在</em> <strong>会议室</strong> 见 客户。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zài</em> <strong>huìyìshì</strong> jiàn kèhù.</span> <span class="trans">The boss is seeing the client in the meeting room.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 你 昨天 <em>在</em> <strong>朋友家</strong> 吃 晚饭 了 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <em>zài</em> <strong>péngyou jiā</strong> chī wǎnfàn le ma?</span> <span class="trans">Did you eat dinner at your friend's place?</span> |
* 我 周末 要 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 睡觉。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhōumò yào <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā</strong> shuìjiào.</span> <span class="trans">During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.</span> | * 我 周末 要 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 睡觉。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhōumò yào <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā</strong> shuìjiào.</span> <span class="trans">During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.</span> | ||
Revision as of 08:00, 15 October 2015
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Keywords
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If you want to describe the place where you are doing, or have done something, you can use 在 (zài).
Structure
To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài) is used.
Subj. + 在 + Location + Verb + Obj.
Notice that the location is placed before the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards. Also, you often need a "里 (lǐ)" with "在 (zài)" after a thing to indicate the location.
Examples
- 我 在 上海 上大学。 I am working in Shanghai.
- 爸爸 一直 在 这 家 公司 工作 。 I am drinking at the bar.
- 不 要 在 床 上 吃 东西。 need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed". Don't eat food on the bed.
- 我 想 在 家 开 一 个 派对。 I want to have a party at my home.
- 他 喜欢 在 厕所 里 抽烟。 need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the bathroom". He likes to smoke while he's in the bathroom.
- 很 多 人 在 地铁 上 吃 早饭。 need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway". Many people eat baozi while on the subway.
- 现在 我们 在 KTV 唱歌。 Now we're at KTV singing songs.
- 老板 在 会议室 见 客户。 The boss is seeing the client in the meeting room.
- 你 昨天 在 朋友家 吃 晚饭 了 吗？ Did you eat dinner at your friend's place?
- 我 周末 要 在 家 睡觉。 During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.
Notice that in English we usually put the location at the end of a sentence. This is different in Chinese, as we put the location after the subject, but before the verb.
