rank 7
在 (zài)
preposition, adverb
to be at; to be in (a place or time); indicating ongoing action

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Character: (zài) — to be at; to be in (a place or time); indicating ongoing action

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Used after subject or location, indicating being somewhere
preposition
我 (wǒ) I 在家 (zài jiā) at home 。 I'm at home.
书 (shū) book 在 (zài) 桌上 (zhuō shàng) on table 。 The book is on the table.
他 (tā) he 在 (zài) 学校 (xué xiào) school 。 He is at school.
Indicating present time or ongoing action
adverb
现在 (xiàn zài) now 在 (zài) 下雨 (xià yǔ) rain 。 It's raining now.
他 (tā) he 在 (zài) 跑步 (pǎo bù) running 。 He is running.
我们 (wǒ men) we 正在 (zhèng zài) ongoing 上课 (shàng kè) class 。 We are in class.
住 (zhù) 在 (zài)
live in (a place)
他 (tā) he 住 (zhù) live 在 (zài) 北京 (běi jīng) Beijing 。 He lives in Beijing.
放 (fàng) 在 (zài)
place on/in (a place)
我 (wǒ) I 把 (bǎ) 书 (shū) book 放 (fàng) place 在 (zài) 书架 (shū jià) shelf 上 (shàng) on 。 I put the book on the bookshelf.
存在 (cún zài)
exist
这个 (zhè gè) this 问题 (wèn tí) problem 不 (bù) 存在 (cún zài) exist 。 This issue doesn't exist.
正在 (zhèng zài)
currently doing (often used together with 在 for ongoing action)
孩子们 (hái zi men) children 正在 (zhèng zài) ongoing 玩 (wán) play 游戏 (yóu xì) game 。 The children are playing a game.
在所难免 (zài suǒ nán miǎn)
hard to avoid; inevitable
Level: intermediate
出现 (chū xiàn) appear 小 (xiǎo) small 错误 (cuò wù) error 在所难免 (zài suǒ nán miǎn) inevitable 。 Small mistakes are inevitable.
有生之年 (yǒu shēng zhī nián)
in one's lifetime
Level: advanced
我 (wǒ) I 希望 (xī wàng) hope 有生之年 (yǒu shēng zhī nián) lifetime 能 (néng) can 环游 (huán yóu) travel around 世界 (shì jiè) world 。 I hope to travel around the world in my lifetime.
妈妈 (mā mā) mother 在 (zài) 厨房 (chú fáng) kitchen 做饭 (zuò fàn) cook 。 Mom is cooking in the kitchen.
他们 (tā men) they 在 (zài) 公园 (gōng yuán) park 散步 (sàn bù) walk 。 They are walking in the park.
我 (wǒ) I 的 (de) 钥匙 (yào shi) key 在 (zài) 抽屉 (chōu tì) drawer 里 (lǐ) 。 My key is in the drawer.
她 (tā) 现在 (xiàn zài) now 在 (zài) 美国 (měi guó) America 。 She is in the United States now.
会议 (huì yì) meeting 在 (zài) 下午 (xià wǔ) afternoon 三点 (sān diǎn) three o'clock 开始 (kāi shǐ) begin 。 The meeting starts at three in the afternoon.