Indicating location with "zai" before verbs

If you want to describe the place where you are doing, or have done something, you can use 在 (zài).

Structure

To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài) is used.

Subject + 在 + Location + Verb + Object

Notice that the location is placed before the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards. Also, you often need a "里 (lǐ)" with "在 (zài)" after a thing to indicate the location.

Examples

• 我 在 上海 工作 。 Wǒ zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. I am working in Shanghai.
• 我 在 酒吧 喝 酒 。 Wǒ zài jiǔbā hē jiǔ. I am drinking at the bar.
• 他 在 图书馆 看 书 。 Tā zài túshūguǎn kàn shū. He is reading in the library.
• 我 在 这 个 公司工作 。 Wǒ zài zhè gè gōngsīgōngzuò. I work at this company.
• 我 周末 要 在 家 睡觉 。 Wǒ zhōumò yào zài jiā shuìjiào. During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.
• 不 要 在 床 上 吃 东西 。 need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed".Bù yào zài chuáng shàng chī dōngxī. Don't eat food on the bed.
• 我 想 在 家 开 一 个 派对 。 Wǒ xiǎng zài jiā kāi yī gè pàiduì. I want to have a party at my home.
• 他 喜欢 在 厕所 里 抽 烟 。 need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the bathroom".Tā xǐhuan zài cèsuǒ lǐ chōu yān. He likes to smoke while he's in the bathroom.
• 很 多 人 在 地铁 里 吃 包子 。 need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway".Hěn duō rén zài dìtiě lǐ chī bāo zi. Many people eat baozi while in the subway.
• 现在 我们 在 KTV 唱 歌 。 Xiànzài wǒmen zài KTV chàng gē. Now we're at KTV singing songs.

Notice that in English we usually put the location at the end of a sentence. This is different in Chinese, as we put the location after the subject, but before the verb.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 128) →buy