Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""
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| − | {{Grammar Box}} | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
| − | The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a | + | The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a location, similar to how we say in English, "to be at" or "to be in." |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
| − | The verb 在 is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb | + | The verb 在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb exclusively for this purpose, and instead uses "to be" with a [[Prepositions|preposition]]. In Chinese, 在 (zài) can cover both of these roles. |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 在 + Place | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use 是, as English uses "to be" | + | Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use 是 (shì), as English uses "to be," but this is not correct. 在 (zài) is the only verb needed. |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>在</em> 上海。<span class="trans">I'm in Shanghai.</span> | + | * 我 <em>在</em> 上海。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> Shànghǎi.</span><span class="trans">I'm in Shanghai.</span> |
| − | * 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="trans"> | + | * 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span> |
| − | * 他 <em>在</em> | + | * 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zài</em> wàimiàn.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span> |
| − | * 她 <em>在</em> | + | * 他 不 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Tā bù <em>zài</em> xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">He's not at school.</span> |
| + | * 她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài <em>zài</em> jiā ma？</span><span class="trans">Is she at home now?</span> | ||
| + | * 你 <em>在</em> 公司 吗？<span class="expl">Literally, "Are you at the company?"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> gōngsī ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you at the office?</span> | ||
| + | * 老师 不 <em>在</em> 办公室 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī bù <em>zài</em> bàngōngshì ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the teacher not in the office?</span> | ||
| + | * 谁 <em>在</em> 楼上？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zài</em> lóushàng?</span><span class="trans">Who is upstairs?</span> | ||
| + | * 我 和 朋友 <em>在</em> 酒吧。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé péngyou <em>zài</em> jiǔbā.</span><span class="trans">I'm with a friend at a bar.</span> | ||
| + | * 你们 明天 <em>在</em> 北京 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen míngtiān <em>zài</em> Běijīng ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you guys in Beijing tomorrow?</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| − | *[[" | + | |
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Indicating location with "zai" before verbs]] |
| + | *[[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]] | ||
*[[Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"]] | *[[Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"]] | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|66}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|85-7}} | |
| + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|154}} | ||
| + | {{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）|73}} | ||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
{{Basic Grammar|在|A1|在 + Place|老师 <em>在 上海</em> 。|grammar point|ASGLRWT8}} | {{Basic Grammar|在|A1|在 + Place|老师 <em>在 上海</em> 。|grammar point|ASGLRWT8}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing existence}} | {{Used for|Expressing existence}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing location}} | {{Used for|Expressing location}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Indicating conditions}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"}} | {{Similar|Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Indicating location with "zai" before verbs}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}} | ||
{{POS|Verbs}} | {{POS|Verbs}} | ||
{{Subprop|Verbs}} | {{Subprop|Verbs}} | ||
{{Translation|in}} | {{Translation|in}} | ||
{{Translation|at}} | {{Translation|at}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:24, 20 April 2021
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The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a location, similar to how we say in English, "to be at" or "to be in."
Structure
The verb 在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb exclusively for this purpose, and instead uses "to be" with a preposition. In Chinese, 在 (zài) can cover both of these roles.
Subj. + 在 + Place
Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use 是 (shì), as English uses "to be," but this is not correct. 在 (zài) is the only verb needed.
Examples
- 我 在 上海。I'm in Shanghai.
- 他们 在 英国。They're in England.
- 老板 在 外面。The boss is outside.
- 他 不 在 学校。He's not at school.
- 她 现在 在 家 吗？Is she at home now?
- 你 在 公司 吗？Literally, "Are you at the company?"Are you at the office?
- 老师 不 在 办公室 吗？Is the teacher not in the office?
- 谁 在 楼上？Who is upstairs?
- 我 和 朋友 在 酒吧。I'm with a friend at a bar.
- 你们 明天 在 北京 吗？Are you guys in Beijing tomorrow?
See also
- Indicating location with "zai" before verbs
- Special cases of "zai" following verbs
- Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"
