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

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* 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 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Tā<em>zài</em> xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">I'm at school.</span>
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* 他 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Tā <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 xiàn zài <em>zài</em>  jiā ma?</span><span class="trans">Is she now home?</span>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>

Revision as of 07:01, 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.
  • 他 不 学校。Tā bùzài xuéxiào.He‘s not at school.
  • 她 现在 家 吗?Tā xiàn zài zài jiā ma?Is she now home?
  • 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