Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""
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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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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">Nǐ míngtiān <em>zài</em> Běijīng ma?</span><span class="trans"> Are you in Beijing tomorrow?</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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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 85-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|66}}
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 154) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|85-7}}
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*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 73)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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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}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{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}}

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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