Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""

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The verb 在 is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb that covers this, and instead uses "to be" with a [[preposition]]. In Chinese, 在 covers both of these. The structure is:
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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."
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== Structure ==
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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">
  
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Subject + 在 + Place
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Subj. + 在 + Place
  
 
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</div>
  
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Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use 是, as this matches the English structure, but this is not correct. 在 is the only verb needed. Some examples:
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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.
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 我在上海。
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* 我 <em>在</em> 上海。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> Shànghǎi.</span><span class="trans">I'm in Shanghai.</span>
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* 他们在英国。
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* 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span>
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* 他在超市。
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* 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zài</em> wàimiàn.</span><span class="trans">The boss  is outside.</span>
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* 她在邮局。
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 谁 <em>在</em> 楼上？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zài</em> lóushàng?</span><span class="trans">Who is upstairs?</span>
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* 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>
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* 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>
  
 
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</div>
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==See also==
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*[[Indicating location with "zai" before verbs]]
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*[[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]]
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*[[Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|66}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|85-7}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|154}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）|73}}
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{Basic Grammar|在|A1|在 + Place|老师 <em>在 上海</em> 。|grammar point|ASGLRWT8}}
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{{Used for|Expressing existence}}
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{{Used for|Expressing location}}
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{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
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{{Similar|Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"}}
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{{Similar|Indicating location with "zai" before verbs}}
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{{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}}
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{{POS|Verbs}}
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{{Subprop|Verbs}}
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{{Translation|in}}
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{{Translation|at}}

Latest revision as of 09:24, 20 April 2021

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。Wǒ zài Shànghǎi.I'm in Shanghai.
  • 他们 在 英国。Tāmen zài Yīngguó.They're in England.
  • 老板 在 外面。Lǎobǎn zài wàimiàn.The boss is outside.
  • 他 不 在 学校。Tā bù zài xuéxiào.He's not at school.
  • 她 现在 在 家 吗？Tā xiànzài zài jiā ma？Is she at home now?
  • 你 在 公司 吗？Literally, "Are you at the company?"Nǐ zài gōngsī ma?Are you at the office?
  • 老师 不 在 办公室 吗？ Lǎoshī bù zài bàngōngshì ma?Is the teacher not in the office?
  • 谁 在 楼上？Shéi zài lóushàng?Who is upstairs?
  • 我 和 朋友 在 酒吧。Wǒ hé péngyou zài jiǔbā.I'm with a friend at a bar.
  • 你们 明天 在 北京 吗？Nǐmen míngtiān zài Běijīng ma?Are you guys in Beijing tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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