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

Line 3: Line 3:
 
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.
 
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), followed by a location, comes before the verb.
 
To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài), followed by a location, comes before the verb.
Line 15: Line 15:
 
Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards.
 
Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards.
  
=== Examples ===
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
Line 34: Line 34:
 
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.
 
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==
+
== Getting More Specific with the Locations ==
 +
 
 +
Rather than just using 在 (zài) to mean "at" a location, you might want to use it to mean "in," "on," or "under" a specific location. To do this, you'll need to add an extra word after the location. Learn about  [[expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"]].
 +
== See also ==
 +
 
 
* [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
 
* [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
 
* [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"]]
 
* [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"]]

Revision as of 07:37, 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.

Getting More Specific with the Locations

Rather than just using 在 (zài) to mean "at" a location, you might want to use it to mean "in," "on," or "under" a specific location. To do this, you'll need to add an extra word after the location. Learn about expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li".

See also

Sources and further reading

Books