Difference between revisions of "Indicating location with "zai" before verbs"

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
If you want to describe the place where you are doing, or have done something, you can use 在 (zài).
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If you need to include the place where an action takes place, you can use 在 (zài). Just pay close attention to [[basic word order|word order]], as this is one place where Chinese word order is quite different from English.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài) is used.  
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To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài), followed by a location, comes before the verb.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subj. + 在 + Location + Verb + Obj.
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Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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.
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Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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==See also==
 
==See also==
 
* [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
 
* [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
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* [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"]]
 
* [[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]]
 
* [[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]]
 
* [[Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"]]
 
* [[Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"]]
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{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb|我 <em>在</em> 上海 工作。|grammar point|ASGX0Z0N}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb|我 <em>在</em> 上海 工作。|grammar point|ASGX0Z0N}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing existence in a place with "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing existence in a place with "zai"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"}}
 
{{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}}
 
{{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}}
 
{{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}}

Revision as of 07:32, 12 March 2016

If you need to include the place where an action takes place, you can use 在 (zài). Just pay close attention to word order, as this is one place where Chinese word order is quite different from English.

Structure

To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài), followed by a location, comes before the verb.

Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb + Obj.

Notice that the location is placed before the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards.

Examples

  • 上海 上大学。zài Shànghǎi shàng dàxué. I went to college in Shanghai.
  • 你 一直 这 家 公司 工作 吗?Nǐ yīzhí zài zhè jiā gōngsī gōngzuò ma? Have you always been working in this company?
  • 我 周末 想 睡觉。Wǒ zhōumò xiǎng zài jiā shuìjiào. During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.
  • 不 要 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.
  • 你 想 哪儿 开 生日 派对?Nǐ xiǎng zài nǎr kāi shēngrì pàiduì? Where do you want have the birthday party?
  • 他 喜欢 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 in the bathroom.
  • 很 多 人 地铁 上 吃 早饭。need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway." Hěn duō rén zài dìtiě shàng chī bāozi. Many people eat breakfast on the subway.
  • 现在 我们 KTV 唱歌。Xiànzài wǒmen zài KTV chàng gē. Now we're at KTV singing songs.
  • 老板 会议室 见 客户。Lǎobǎn zài huìyìshì jiàn kèhù. The boss is seeing the client in the meeting room.
  • 外面 吃 过 晚饭 了 吗?zài wàimiàn chī guo wǎnfàn le ma? Did you eat dinner outside?

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

Sources and further reading

Books