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在
zài
at
我在家。
I am at home.
formal
Indicates a location or position where someone or something is present
他在办公室。
He is at the office.
书在桌子上。
The book is on the table.
Used before a noun or noun phrase to indicate location.
formal
Indicates an action in progress (with 正 or 正在)
她正在学习。
She is studying.
雨还在下。
It is still raining.
Often paired with 正/正在 to emphasize ongoing action.
formal
Concerning or regarding (used before a noun to indicate scope)
这件事在于你。
It depends on you.
问题在于时间。
The issue lies in time.
Expresses 'the crux is...' or 'the key factor is...'
formal
Indicates possession or existence (used with 有)
桌子上在书。
There is a book on the table.
Less common; often replaced by 有...在... structure.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Position matters
在 always precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., 在家 'at home' not 家在 'home at').
Gold Rule
在 vs 有
在 describes location/state (e.g., 他在家 'He is at home'), while 有 indicates existence (e.g., 家里有人 'There is someone at home').
Word Origin
From Old Chinese *dzəʔ, indicating location or existence. Evolved from a verb meaning 'to be present' to a preposition marking location.
Usage Notes
在 is a highly versatile word in Chinese, functioning as a preposition, verb, or adverb depending on context. It is essential for describing locations, ongoing actions, and abstract states. Unlike English 'at' or 'in', 在 is often omitted in questions (e.g., 你家在哪儿？ instead of 你家在哪儿在？).
Word Breakdown
在
to be present/at
root汉英词典