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- {{Grammar Box}}
- 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 [[Prepositions|preposition]]. 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]]
- *[[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]]
- *[[Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"]]
- == Sources and further reading ==
- === Books ===
- * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 85-7) [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 →buy]
- * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 154) [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 →buy]
- *[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 73)[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 →buy]
- [[Category:A1 grammar points]]
- {{Basic Grammar|在|A1|在 + Place|老师 <em>在 上海</em> 。|grammar point|ASGLRWT8}}
- {{Used for|Expressing existence}}
- {{Used for|Expressing location}}
- {{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
- {{Similar|Expressing location with "zai...shang/xia/li"}}
- {{Similar|Indicating location with "zai" before verbs}}
- {{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}}
- {{POS|Verbs}}
- {{Subprop|Verbs}}
- {{Translation|in}}
- {{Translation|at}}
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