Expressing actions in progress with "zai"

在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as an auxiliary verb to express that an action is ongoing or in progress. This is often the equivalent of present continuous in English. 正在 emphasizes ongoing or in progress of an action a bit more than 在。

Structure

Subject + 在 + Verb + Object

or

Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object

Examples

• 她 在 看 书。She is reading.
• 我 在 喝 啤酒。I am drinking beer.
• 他 现在 在 开会，没有 时间 见 你。He is currently in a meeting, he doesn't have time to see you.
• 我 刚刚 在 打电话， 不 知道 你 来 了。I was just on the phone, I don't know you arrived.
• 我 现在 在 上班，不 能 去 接 孩子。I am currently at work, I'm not able to pick up the kids.
• 我们 正在 上课，请 稍等。We are in class, please wait a bit.
• 你们 正在 吃饭，我 过 会儿 再 说。We are eating, I'll talk a little later.
• 我 回家 的 时候， 妈妈 正在 做 饭。When I was going home, my mom was preparing a meal.
• 我 到 办公室 的 时候 发现 她 正在 看 电影。When I arrived at the office, I discovered she was watching a movie.
• 他 打电话 给 我 的 时候， 我 正在 跟 朋友 喝酒。When he gave me a call, I was with friends drinking alcohol.

See also

• Aspect particle "zhe"
• Expressing actions in progress (full form) (more advanced usage)

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 41-2) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 60-1) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 209-10) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 218-9) →buy