jiècí: zài
Preposition 在 (介词：在)
在 works as a preposition meaning 'at/in/on a place'. Put it before a location word to say where an action happens. The word order is: Subject + 在 + place + verb.
核心例句
你在哪儿工作？我在医院工作，他在家休息——一个"在"，地点全搞定！
Nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò? Wǒ zài yīyuàn gōngzuò, tā zài jiā xiūxi — yī gè 'zài', dìdiǎn quán gǎodìng!
Where do you work? I work at the hospital, he rests at home — one word 在 handles every location!
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1 个结构
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10 个练习
课程摘要
在 works as a preposition meaning 'at/in/on a place'. Put it before a location word to say where an action happens. The word order is: Subject + 在 + place + verb.
在 as a preposition tells you WHERE an action takes place. The key rule: place the location BEFORE the verb, not after it as in English.
Structure: Subject + 在 + place + verb 我在学校学习。(I study at school.) — 在 + 学校 comes before 学习.
When to use 在: Use it whenever you want to state the location of an ongoing action — working, studying, eating, sleeping, shopping.
When NOT to use 在 as a preposition: 1. Do not put 在 + place AFTER the verb (English-style). 我学习在学校。 2. Do not confuse prepositional 在 with verb 在 (to be located at). In 他在家 (He is at home), 在 is the main verb. In 他在家工作 (He works at home), 在 is a preposition — there is another verb after the location.
Common mistakes: - Forgetting 在 entirely and just listing the place and verb. - Adding 在 after the verb instead of before the place.
Note: 在 can also function as a standalone verb meaning 'to be at/in'. Example: 你在哪儿？(Where are you?) — here 在 is the predicate, no other verb follows.
语法句型
Subject + 在 + place + verb
在 before a place tells where an action happens. The location comes before the verb.
我在图书馆看书。
Wǒ zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.
I read at the library.
她在餐厅工作。
Tā zài cāntīng gōngzuò.
She works at a restaurant.
爸爸在家做饭。
Bàba zài jiā zuò fàn.
Dad cooks at home.
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