Special cases of "zai" following verbs

When used to indicate locations, 在 (zài) is usually placed immediately after the subject. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

In some cases, the usual rule for location preceding the verb does not apply. Instead, it goes after the verb. This often occurs with particular verbs, including: 住 (zhù), 放 (fàng), 坐 (zuò), 站 (zhàn).

Structure

These are verbs that imply movement or location. Technically, the structure is called a location complement, but it can be understood without going into that much detail. Just remember that for verbs implying movement or location like the ones above, the rule changes and you get this structure:

Subj. + [Special Verb] + 在 + Location

Examples

• 你 住 在 上海 吗？Nǐ zhù zài Shànghǎi ma? Do you live in Shanghai?
• 他 坐 在 老板 的 旁边。Tā zuò zài lǎobǎn de pángbiān. He sits next to the boss.
• 你 应该 站 在 我 后面。Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn zài wǒ hòumian. You should stand behind me.
• 不要 坐 在 我 的 床 上。Bùyào zuò zài wǒ de chuáng shang. Don't sit on my bed.
• 你 的 衣服 不可以 放 在 这里。Nǐ de yīfu bùkěyǐ fàng zài zhèlǐ. You can't put your clothes here.
• 不要 站 在 路 中间。Bùyào zhàn zài lù zhōngjiān. Don't stand in the middle of the road.
• 孩子 喜欢 坐 在 地 上 玩。Háizi xǐhuan zuò zài dìshang wán. Kids like sitting on the ground and palying.
• 那 本 书 我 放 在 桌子 上 了。Nà běn shū wǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shang le. I placed that book on the table.
• 不要 走 在 草地 上。Búyào zǒu zài cǎodìshang. Don't walk on the grass.
• 周末 我 不想 待 在 家 里。Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎng dāi zài jiā lǐ. I don't want to stay at home on weekends.

Remember that this is an exception to the normal rule. A common mistake is to over apply this and produce incorrect sentences. Note the incorrect and correct versions below.

• 我 工作 在 上海。Wǒ gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi. I work located in Shanghai. (incorrect)
• 我 在 上海 工作。Wǒ zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. I work in Shanghai. (correct)
• 我 学习 在 图书馆。Wǒ xuéxí zài túshūguǎn. I study located in the library. (incorrect)
• 我 在 图书馆 学习。Wǒ zài túshūguǎn xuéxí. I study in the library. (correct)

See also

• Expressing existence in a place
• Using "zai" with verbs
• Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 104-105) →buy