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在(zài) — meaning, uses and examples

1. verb to be at; to exist in a place

   我的手机在桌子上。

   Wǒ de shǒujī zài zhuōzi shàng.

   My phone is on the table.

2. verb to be alive; to be living

   他的爷爷奶奶都还在。

   Tā de yéye nǎinai dōu hái zài.

   His grandparents are both still living.

3. verb to hold (a position); to occupy (written)

   这位国王在位四十年。

   Zhè wèi guówáng zàiwèi sìshí nián.

   This king reigned for forty years.

4. verb to depend on; to rest with

   事在人为。

   Shì zài rén wéi.

   Success depends on human effort.

5. preposition at; in (introducing the place of an action)

   他在图书馆看书。

   Tā zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.

   He reads in the library.

6. preposition at; on (introducing the time of an event)

   会议在下午三点开始。

   Huìyì zài xiàwǔ sān diǎn kāishǐ.

   The meeting starts at three in the afternoon.

7. preposition in; under; with respect to (scope, aspect, or condition, with 上/中/下/方面)

   在老师的帮助下，我进步很快。

   Zài lǎoshī de bāngzhù xià, wǒ jìnbù hěn kuài.

   With my teacher's help, I improved quickly.

8. adverb in the middle of doing; indicates an action in progress

   他在写作业。

   Tā zài xiě zuòyè.

   He is doing his homework.