The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a location, similar to how we
say in English, "to be at" or "to be in."

Structure
---------

The verb 在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place. English does
not have a verb exclusively for this purpose, and instead uses "to be"
with a [preposition](Prepositions "wikilink"). In Chinese, 在 (zài) can
cover both of these roles.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 在 + Place

</div>
Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can
be tempting to try use 是 (shì), as English uses "to be," but this is
not correct. 在 (zài) is the only verb needed.

Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>在</em> 上海。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em>
    Shànghǎi.</span><span class="trans">I'm in Shanghai.</span>
-   他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em>
    Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span>
-   老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zài</em>
    wàimiàn.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span>
-   他 不 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Tā bù <em>zài</em>
    xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">He's not at school.</span>
-   她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài
    <em>zài</em> jiā ma？</span><span class="trans">Is she at home
    now?</span>
-   你 <em>在</em> 公司 吗？<span class="expl">Literally, "Are you at
    the company?"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> gōngsī
    ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you at the office?</span>
-   老师 不 <em>在</em> 办公室 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī bù
    <em>zài</em> bàngōngshì ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the teacher
    not in the office?</span>
-   谁 <em>在</em> 楼上？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zài</em>
    lóushàng?</span><span class="trans">Who is upstairs?</span>
-   我 和 朋友 <em>在</em> 酒吧。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé péngyou
    <em>zài</em> jiǔbā.</span><span class="trans">I'm with a friend at a
    bar.</span>
-   你们 明天 <em>在</em> 北京 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ míngtiān
    <em>zài</em> Běijīng ma?</span><span class="trans"> Are you in
    Beijing tomorrow?</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Indicating location with "zai" before
    verbs](Indicating_location_with_"zai"_before_verbs "wikilink")
-   [Special cases of "zai" following
    verbs](Special_cases_of_"zai"_following_verbs "wikilink")
-   [Expressing location with
    "zai...shang/xia/li"](Expressing_location_with_"zai...shang/xia/li" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    85-7)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    2 (新实用汉语课本2)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(新实用汉语课本2) "wikilink") (pp.
    154)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    73)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")