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  <title>Expressing existence in a place with "zai"</title>
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  <h1>Expressing existence in a place with "<span class="pinyin">zài</span>" "<span class="hanzist">在</span>&gt;"</h1>

  <p>The verb <span class="hanzi">在</span> (<span class="pinyin">zài</span>) expresses existence in a location, similar to how we say in English, "<b>to be at</b>" or "<b>to be in.</b>"</p>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_111">Contents</h2>

  <div class="contents">
    <ul>
      <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22#Structure"> 1 Structure</a></li>

      <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22#Examples"> 2 Examples</a></li>

      <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22#See_also"> 3 See also</a></li>

      <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22#Sources_and_further_reading"> 4 Sources and further reading</a> 

      <ul>
        <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22#Books"> 4.1 Books</a></li>
      </ul></li>
    </ul>
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  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_112"><span id="Structure">Structure</span></h3>

  <p>The verb <span class="hanzi">在</span> (<span class="pinyin">zài</span>) 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 <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Prepositions" title="Prepositions" class="mw-redirect">preposition</a>. In Chinese, <span class="hanzi">在</span> (<span class="pinyin">zài</span>) can cover both of these roles.</p>

  <div class="deux">
    Subj. + <span class="hanzist">在</span> + Place
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  <p>Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use <span class="hanzi">是 </span> <span class="pinyin">shì</span>), as English uses "to be," but this is not correct. <span class="hanzi">在</span> (<span class="pinyin">zài</span>) is the only verb needed.</p>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_113">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 在 上海。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài Shànghǎi.</span> <br/>I'm in Shanghai.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他们 在 英国。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tāmen zài Yīngguó.</span><br/> They're in England.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老板 在 外面。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn zài wàimian.</span><br/> The boss is outside.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 不 在 学校。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā bù zài xuéxiào.</span><br/> He's not at school.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 现在 在 家 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài zài jiā ma？</span> <br/>Is she at home now?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 在 公司 吗？</span>&#160;<span class="vert">Literally: "Are you at the company?"</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài gōngsī ma?</span> <br/>Are you at the office?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老师 不 在 办公室 吗？</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī bù zài bàngōngshì ma?</span> <br/>Is the teacher not in the office?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">谁 在 楼上？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Shéi zài lóushàng?</span> <br/>Who is upstairs?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 和 朋友 在 酒吧。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé péngyou zài jiǔbā.</span> <br/>I'm with a friend at a bar.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 明天 在 北京 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ míngtiān zài Běijīng ma?</span> <br/>Are you in Beijing tomorrow?</li>
    </ul>
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  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_114">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_location_with_%22zai%22_before_verbs" title="Indicating location with &quot;zai&quot; before verbs">Indicating location with "zài" before verbs</a></li>

    <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special_cases_of_%22zai%22_following_verbs" title="Special cases of &quot;zai&quot; following verbs">Special cases of "zài" following verbs</a></li>

    <li><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_location_with_%22zai...shang/xia/li%22" title="Expressing location with &quot;zai...shang/xia/li&quot;" class="mw-redirect">Expressing location with "zài...shàng/xià/lǐ"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_115">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_116">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 85-7)</li>

    <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本2</span>) (pp. 154)</li>

    <li>40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (<span class="hanzi">基础汉语40课上册</span>） (p. 73)</li>
  </ul>
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