在 (location)
HSK 1- Location
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Subject在Place(Verb)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Preposition 在 is used to indicate the location of a person or thing, meaning 'at' or 'in'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
在 (zài) is a preposition indicating location, meaning "at" or "in." The biggest difference from Vietnamese is that the location phrase 在 + place must always come before the verb.
When expressing simple existence (with no action verb), the sentence takes the form Subject + 在 + Place. For example: 我在家 (I am at home).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我在家。Wǒ zài jiā.
I am at home.
- 他在银行工作。繁: 他在銀行工作。Tā zài yínháng gōngzuò.
He works at a bank.
- 妈妈在厨房做饭。繁: 媽媽在廚房做飯。Māma zài chúfáng zuòfàn.
Mother is cooking in the kitchen.
- 我的书在桌子上。繁: 我的書在桌子上。Wǒ de shū zài zhuōzi shàng.
My book is on the table.
- 你在哪儿学习？繁: 你在哪兒學習？Nǐ zài nǎr xuéxí?
Where do you study?