Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""
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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> | * 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="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span> | * 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span> | ||
| − | * 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em>wàimian.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span> | + | * 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> wàimian.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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 | + | * 她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài <em>zài</em> jiā ma？</span><span class="trans">Is she now home?</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> | * 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> | * 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> | + | * 谁 <em>在</em> 楼上？<span class="pinyin">Shuí <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> | ||
* 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> | * 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> | ||
Revision as of 07:10, 13 February 2016
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Keywords
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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 now home?
- 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 in Beijing tomorrow?
