Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""

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Subject + 在 + Place
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Subj. + 在 + Place
  
 
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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>
* <em>在</em> 超市。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> chāoshì.</span><span class="trans">He's at the supermarket.</span>
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* 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em>wàimian.</span><span class="trans">The boss  is outside.</span>
* 她 <em>在</em> 邮局。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> yóujú.</span><span class="trans">She's at the post office.</span>
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* 她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗?<span class="pinyin">Tā xiàn zài<em>zài</em> jiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Is she now home?</span>
 
* 我 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">I'm at school.</span>
 
* 我 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em> xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">I'm at school.</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>
* <em>在</em> 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> jiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you at home?</span>
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* 老师 早上 <em>在</em> 办公室 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī zǎoshàng <em>zài</em> bàngōngshì  ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the teacher in the office this morning?</span>
* <em>在</em> 洗手间。<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> xǐshǒujiān.</span><span class="trans">I'm in the bathroom.</span>
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* <em>在</em> 洗手间?<span class="pinyin">Shuí <em>zài</em> xǐshǒujiān?</span><span class="trans">Who is in the bathroom?</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>
* <em>在</em> 公园。<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> gōngyuán.</span><span class="trans">I'm at the park.</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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Revision as of 06:44, 17 September 2015

The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a place, similar to how we say in English, "to be located in".

Structure

The verb 在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb that covers this, and instead uses "to be" with a preposition. In Chinese, 在 (zài) covers both of these.

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

  • 上海。zài Shànghǎi.I'm in Shanghai.
  • 他们 英国。Tāmen zài Yīngguó.They're in England.
  • 老板 外面。zàiwàimian.The boss is outside.
  • 她 现在 家 吗?Tā xiàn zàizài jiā ma?Is she now home?
  • 学校。zài xuéxiào.I'm at school.
  • 公司 吗?(Literally: "Are you at the company?")zài gōngsī ma?Are you at the office?
  • 老师 早上 办公室 吗? Lǎoshī zǎoshàng zài bàngōngshì ma?Is the teacher in the office this morning?
  • 洗手间?Shuí zài xǐshǒujiān?Who is in the bathroom?
  • 我 和 朋友 酒吧。Wǒ hé péngyou zài jiǔbā.I'm with a friend at a bar.
  • 你们 明天 北京 吗?Nǐ míngtiān zài Běijīng ma? Are you in Beijing tomorrow?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books