Difference between revisions of "Idiomatic phrases with "zai""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
You probably already know how to [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"|express location with ""]]. In this article, we'll go more in depth as to how you can make idiomatic phrases using that construction. This kind of form is actually similar to some that we have in English, so it won't be too difficult.
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You probably already know how to [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"|express location with 在]]. In this article, we'll go more in depth as to how you can make idiomatic phrases using that construction. This kind of form is actually similar to some that we have in English, so it won't be too difficult.
  
== "on the Topic of" with 在⋯⋯上 ==
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== Used with ==
  
 
This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to." It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.
 
This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to." It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
在 + Topic + 上 ,⋯⋯
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在 + Topic + 上 ,Subj. ⋯⋯
 
</div class>
 
</div class>
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Note that the subject can also be put before 在.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>在</em> 这 个 问题 <em>上</em> ,我们 的 看法 一样 。<span class="trans">In regards to this problem, our opinions are not the same.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 这 个 问题 <strong>上</strong> ,我们 的 看法 一样 <span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhège wèntí <strong>shàng</strong>, wǒmen de kànfǎ shì yīyàng de.</span><span class="trans">In regards to this problem, our opinions are the same.</span>
*这 两 位 汉语 老师 <em>在</em> 教学 方法 <em></em> 有 很 大 的 不同 。<span class="trans">These two Chinese teachers have big differences in their teaching methods.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 美国 历史 <strong>上</strong> ,谁 是 最 重要 的 总统 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> Měiguó lìshǐ <strong>shàng</strong>, shéi shì zuì zhòngyào de zǒngtǒng ?</span><span class="trans">In regards to American history, who is the most important president?</span>
*这个 句子 <em>在</em> 语法 <em>上</em> 没 什么 问题 ,但是 不 太 地道 。<span class="trans">This sentence is okay to say in terms of grammar, it's just not very authentic.</span>
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*这个 句子 <em>在</em> 语法 <strong>上</strong> 没 什么 问题 ,但是 不 太 自然 <span class="pinyin">Zhège jùzi <em>zài</em> yǔfǎ <strong>shàng</strong> méi shénme wèntí, dànshì bù tài zìrán.</span><span class="trans">This sentence is okay to say in terms of grammar, it's just not very natural.</span>
*<em>在</em>美国 历史 <em>上</em>,最 重要 的 总统 是 谁 ?<span class="trans">In American history, who is the most important president?</span>
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*南方人 和 北方人 <em>在</em> 生活 习惯 <strong>上</strong> 有 很多 差异 。<span class="pinyin">Nánfāng rén hé běifāng rén <em>zài</em> shēnghuó xíguàn <strong>shàng</strong> yǒu hěn duō chāyì.</span><span class="trans">There are many differences between northern and southern people when it comes to living habits.</span>
*你 知道 南方人 和 北方人 <em></em> 生活 习惯 <em></em> 有 什么 不同 吗 ?<span class="trans">Do you know what the differences are between northern and southern people as far as living habits?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== "under" with 在⋯⋯下 ==
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== Used with ==
  
 
This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.
 
This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
+ Topic + ,Result/Comment Sentence
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⋯⋯ ,⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>在</em> 这样 的 环境 <em>下</em>长大 ,孩子 怎么 可能 快乐?<span class="trans">How can kids be happy growing up in this kind of environment?</span>
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*<em>在</em> 这样 的 环境 <strong>下</strong> 长大 ,孩子 会 快乐 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhèyàng de huánjìng <strong>xià</strong> zhǎngdà, háizi huì kuàilè ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you think kids will be happy growing up in this kind of environment?</span>
*<em>在</em> 这种 情况<em>下</em>,你 会 怎么 做 ?<span class="trans">In this situation, what would you do?</span>
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*<em>在</em> 这 种 情况 <strong>下</strong> ,你们 会 怎么 做 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng <strong>xià</strong>, nǐmen huì zěnme zuò?</span><span class="trans">Under these kinds of circumstances, what would you do?</span>
*我 想 知道 <em>在</em> 这 种 条件 <em></em> ,你们 是 怎么 做到 的 ?<span class="trans">I wonder how you pulled this off under this condition?</span>
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*<em>在</em> 紧急 情况 <strong>下</strong> ,你 可以 这样 做 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> jǐnjí qíngkuàng <strong>xià</strong>, nǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng zuò.</span><span class="trans">In an emergency situation, you can do this.</span>
*<em>在</em>政府 帮助<em>下</em>,他 读 完 了 大学。<span class="trans">With the financial help of the government, he was able to finish college education.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 那么 困难 条件 <strong>下</strong> ,她 还是 坚持 让 孩子们 都 上学 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> nàme kùnnan de tiáojiàn <strong>xià</strong>, tā háishì jiānchí ràng háizi men dōu shàngxué.</span><span class="trans">Under dire financial conditions, she still insisted that the children should all attend school.</span>
*<em></em> 老师 的 鼓励 <em></em>,我 去 报名 了 。<span class="trans">With the encouragement of the teacher, I went to sign up.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== "under" with 在⋯⋯方面 ==
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== Used with 方面 ==
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 +
This construction is similar to the 在⋯⋯上 above, which translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of."
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
This construction is similar to the 在⋯⋯上 above, which translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of." 在 can be omitted.  
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<div class="jiegou">
 +
+ Topic + 方面 ,Subj. ⋯⋯
 +
</div class>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>在</em> IT <em>方面</em> ,他 是 专家 。<span class="trans">On the topic of IT, he is an expert.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 事业 <strong>方面</strong> ,我 老板 很 成功 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> shìyè <strong>fāngmiàn</strong>, wǒ lǎobǎn hěn chénggōng.</span><span class="trans">With regards to career, my boss is very successful.</span>
*我们 公司<em>在</em> 这些<em>方面</em> 的 服务 还 不够 好 。<span class="trans">In these aspects, our company's service is not good enough.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 技术 <strong>方面</strong> ,他 是 专家 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> jìshù <strong>fāngmiàn</strong>, tā shì zhuānjiā.</span><span class="trans">When it comes to technology, he's an expert.</span>
*他 刚 来 公司 ,<em>在</em> 工作 <em>方面</em>,还 需要 你 多 帮帮 他 。<span class="trans">He just joined our company. As far as doing his work, he still needs you to help him.</span>
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*<em>在</em> 管理 <strong>方面</strong> ,你 比 我 有经验 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> guǎnlǐ <strong>fāngmiàn</strong>, nǐ bǐ wǒ yǒu jīngyàn.</span><span class="trans">When it comes to management, you have more experience than I do.</span>
* 中 西方 文化 <em>在</em> 很多 <em>方面</em> 都 有 共同点 。<span class="trans">In certain aspects, Chinese and Western culture have a lot in common.</span>
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*中西方 文化 <em>在</em> 很多 <strong>方面</strong> 都 有 共同点 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōng-xīfāng wénhuà <em>zài</em> hěn duō <strong>fāngmiàn</strong> dōu yǒu gòngtóngdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">In certain aspects, Chinese and Western culture have a lot in common.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|10, 74}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|191}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|191}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|264, 325}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|264, 325}}
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|在|B1|在 + Topic + 上 ,⋯⋯|<em>在</em>美国 历史 <em>上</em>,最 重要 的 总统 是 谁 ?|grammar point|ASGH13JY}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|在|B1|在 + Topic + 上 ,Subj. ⋯⋯|<em>在</em>美国 历史 <strong>上</strong> ,最重要 的 总统 是 谁 ?|grammar point|ASGH13JY}}
 
{{Rel char|上}}
 
{{Rel char|上}}
 
{{Rel char|下}}
 
{{Rel char|下}}
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{{Used for|Expressing location}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing location}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{Translation|in}}
 
{{Translation|in}}
 
{{Translation|at}}
 
{{Translation|at}}
 
{{Translation|on}}
 
{{Translation|on}}

Latest revision as of 09:47, 9 November 2020

You probably already know how to express location with 在. In this article, we'll go more in depth as to how you can make idiomatic phrases using that construction. This kind of form is actually similar to some that we have in English, so it won't be too difficult.

Used with 上

This construction can be translated as "on the topic of" or "in regards to." It can be used to comment on an idea or concept. The examples below will help.

Structure

在 + Topic + 上 ,Subj. ⋯⋯

Note that the subject can also be put before 在.

Examples

  • 这 个 问题 ,我们 的 看法 是 一样 的 。Zài zhège wèntí shàng, wǒmen de kànfǎ shì yīyàng de.In regards to this problem, our opinions are the same.
  • 美国 历史 ,谁 是 最 重要 的 总统 ?Zài Měiguó lìshǐ shàng, shéi shì zuì zhòngyào de zǒngtǒng ?In regards to American history, who is the most important president?
  • 这个 句子 语法 没 什么 问题 ,但是 不 太 自然 。Zhège jùzi zài yǔfǎ shàng méi shénme wèntí, dànshì bù tài zìrán.This sentence is okay to say in terms of grammar, it's just not very natural.
  • 南方人 和 北方人 生活 习惯 有 很多 差异 。Nánfāng rén hé běifāng rén zài shēnghuó xíguàn shàng yǒu hěn duō chāyì.There are many differences between northern and southern people when it comes to living habits.

Used with 下

This construction can be translated (rather directly) as "under" and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.

Structure

在 ⋯⋯ 下 ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 这样 的 环境 长大 ,孩子 会 快乐 吗 ?Zài zhèyàng de huánjìng xià zhǎngdà, háizi huì kuàilè ma?Do you think kids will be happy growing up in this kind of environment?
  • 这 种 情况 ,你们 会 怎么 做 ?Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, nǐmen huì zěnme zuò?Under these kinds of circumstances, what would you do?
  • 紧急 情况 ,你 可以 这样 做 。Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, nǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng zuò.In an emergency situation, you can do this.
  • 那么 困难 的 条件 ,她 还是 坚持 让 孩子们 都 上学 。Zài nàme kùnnan de tiáojiàn xià, tā háishì jiānchí ràng háizi men dōu shàngxué.Under dire financial conditions, she still insisted that the children should all attend school.

Used with 方面

This construction is similar to the 在⋯⋯上 above, which translates to "in relation to" or "on the topic of."

Structure

在 + Topic + 方面 ,Subj. ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 事业 方面 ,我 老板 很 成功 。Zài shìyè fāngmiàn, wǒ lǎobǎn hěn chénggōng.With regards to career, my boss is very successful.
  • 技术 方面 ,他 是 专家 。Zài jìshù fāngmiàn, tā shì zhuānjiā.When it comes to technology, he's an expert.
  • 管理 方面 ,你 比 我 有经验 。Zài guǎnlǐ fāngmiàn, nǐ bǐ wǒ yǒu jīngyàn.When it comes to management, you have more experience than I do.
  • 中西方 文化 很多 方面 都 有 共同点 。Zhōng-xīfāng wénhuà zài hěn duō fāngmiàn dōu yǒu gòngtóngdiǎn.In certain aspects, Chinese and Western culture have a lot in common.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books