📍 在 (zài) - Expressing Location and Ongoing Actions with 在
Master the versatile particle 在 (zài) to indicate locations and ongoing actions in Chinese
Chinese lesson from Tuesday, June 3, 2025
📚 Part A - Essential Learning
Learn the fundamentals of 在 (zài) for expressing locations and ongoing actions. Perfect for beginners mastering basic Chinese positioning and daily activities.
Perfect for beginners and essential concepts
📚 Key Phrase: 你在干吗? (nǐ zài gàn má?)
📖
Grammar Focus
📍 在 (zài) - The Location and Action Marker
在 (zài) is a crucial particle in Chinese that serves two main functions: indicating location and ongoing actions.
在 (zài) is a crucial particle in Chinese that serves two main functions: indicating location and ongoing actions.
Two main uses of 在 (zài):
•
•
•
在 + place
= at/in/on [location]•
在 + verb
= [doing something] (ongoing action)🏢 在 + Location:
Use 在 (zài) to indicate where someone or something is located:
• 我在公司 (wǒ zài gōng sī) - I am at the company
• 我在餐馆 (wǒ zài cān guǎn) - I am at the restaurant
• 小猫在医院 (xiǎo māo zài yī yuàn) - The kitten is at the hospital
Use 在 (zài) to indicate where someone or something is located:
• 我在公司 (wǒ zài gōng sī) - I am at the company
• 我在餐馆 (wǒ zài cān guǎn) - I am at the restaurant
• 小猫在医院 (xiǎo māo zài yī yuàn) - The kitten is at the hospital
你在哪儿?
nǐ zài nǎr?
Where are you?
🔄 在 + Action (Progressive):
Use 在 (zài) before a verb to show an action is happening now:
• 我在吃饭 (wǒ zài chī fàn) - I am eating
• 我在洗碗 (wǒ zài xǐ wǎn) - I am washing dishes
• 我爸爸在工作 (wǒ bà ba zài gōng zuò) - My father is working
Use 在 (zài) before a verb to show an action is happening now:
• 我在吃饭 (wǒ zài chī fàn) - I am eating
• 我在洗碗 (wǒ zài xǐ wǎn) - I am washing dishes
• 我爸爸在工作 (wǒ bà ba zài gōng zuò) - My father is working
Location + Action structure:
• 我在公园等你 (wǒ zài gōng yuán děng nǐ) - I am waiting for you at the park
• 我在餐馆吃饭 (wǒ zài cān guǎn chī fàn) - I am eating at the restaurant
我在 + [place] + [verb] + [object]
• 我在公园等你 (wǒ zài gōng yuán děng nǐ) - I am waiting for you at the park
• 我在餐馆吃饭 (wǒ zài cān guǎn chī fàn) - I am eating at the restaurant
❓ Question patterns with 在:
• 你在哪儿?(nǐ zài nǎr?) - Where are you? (location)
• 你在干吗?(nǐ zài gàn má?) - What are you doing? (action)
• 小猫在哪儿?(xiǎo māo zài nǎr?) - Where is the kitten?
• 你在哪儿?(nǐ zài nǎr?) - Where are you? (location)
• 你在干吗?(nǐ zài gàn má?) - What are you doing? (action)
• 小猫在哪儿?(xiǎo māo zài nǎr?) - Where is the kitten?
你在干吗?
nǐ zài gàn má?
What are you doing?
¿Qué estás haciendo?
词汇 Vocabulary Practice
Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!
你在干吗?
nǐ zài gàn má?
English:
What are you doing?
Español:
¿Qué estás haciendo?
我在吃牛肉和土豆
wǒ zài chī niú ròu hé tǔ dòu
English:
I am eating beef and potatoes
Español:
Estoy comiendo carne de res y papas
你在哪儿?
nǐ zài nǎr?
English:
Where are you?
Español:
¿Dónde estás?
我在公司
wǒ zài gōng sī
English:
I am at the company
Español:
Estoy en la empresa
我在洗碗
wǒ zài xǐ wǎn
English:
I am washing dishes
Español:
Estoy lavando platos
我在餐馆
wǒ zài cān guǎn
English:
I am at the restaurant
Español:
Estoy en el restaurante
我在吃饭
wǒ zài chī fàn
English:
I am eating
Español:
Estoy comiendo
我在公园等你
wǒ zài gōng yuán děng nǐ
English:
I am waiting for you at the park
Español:
Te estoy esperando en el parque
小猫在哪儿
xiǎo māo zài nǎr
English:
Where is the kitten?
Español:
¿Dónde está el gatito?
小猫在医院
xiǎo māo zài yī yuàn
English:
The kitten is at the hospital
Español:
El gatito está en el hospital
医生在哪儿?
yī shēng zài nǎr?
English:
Where is the doctor?
Español:
¿Dónde está el médico?
医生在医院
yī shēng zài yī yuàn
English:
The doctor is at the hospital
Español:
El médico está en el hospital
你爸爸在哪儿
nǐ bà ba zài nǎr
English:
Where is your father?
Español:
¿Dónde está tu papá?
我爸爸在工作
wǒ bà ba zài gōng zuò
English:
My father is working
Español:
Mi papá está trabajando
文化 Cultural Insights
🏥 Healthcare and Work Culture in China
🐾 Pet Care:
• Taking pets to the hospital shows great care and responsibility in Chinese culture
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often used alongside Western medicine for both humans and animals
• Pet ownership is increasingly popular in urban China
• Veterinary care combines modern techniques with traditional approaches
👔 Work Culture:
• When someone says '在工作' (at work), it implies dedication and responsibility
• Chinese work culture values presence and commitment to the workplace
• '996' work culture (9am-9pm, 6 days a week) is common in tech companies
• Work-life balance is becoming more important to younger generations
🍚 Meal Culture:
• Chinese meal culture is very social and communal
• When you say '我在吃饭', it might be an invitation to join or a polite way to say you're busy
• Family meals are important for maintaining relationships
• Business deals are often discussed over meals
💡 Cultural Tip: Asking '你在哪儿?' and '你在干吗?' shows care and interest in someone's daily life - it's a common way to start conversations and stay connected!
🎯 Part B - Advanced Practice
Explore advanced usage patterns, cultural contexts, and real-world conversations. Ideal for students ready to master complex location-action combinations and natural dialogue.
For students ready to dive deeper
📖 Reading Practice
📱 忙碌的一天 - A Busy Day
小明给妈妈打电话。
妈妈问:"你在哪儿?"
小明说:"我在公司工作。"
妈妈又问:"你在干吗?"
小明回答:"我在写报告。爸爸在哪儿?"
妈妈说:"你爸爸在医院,他在看医生。小猫也在那儿。"
小明很担心:"小猫怎么了?"
妈妈解释:"小猫在医院检查身体,医生说它很健康。"
晚上,全家人在餐馆吃饭。
小明问服务员:"我们在等朋友,可以先点菜吗?"
服务员说:"当然可以,我在准备菜单。"
📝 Vocabulary from this reading:
打电话
dǎ diàn huà
To make a phone call
报告
bào gào
Report
担心
dān xīn
Worried
检查
jiǎn chá
To examine, check
健康
jiàn kāng
Healthy
服务员
fú wù yuán
Waiter/Waitress
点菜
diǎn cài
To order food
菜单
cài dān
Menu
📚 Additional Learning Content
🗣️ Daily Conversations with 在
Real-life dialogue patterns using 在 for location and actions.
Real-life dialogue patterns using 在 for location and actions.
A: 你在哪儿?
A: nǐ zài nǎr?
A: Where are you?
B: 我在餐馆吃饭
B: wǒ zài cān guǎn chī fàn
B: I am eating at the restaurant
A: 你爸爸在干吗?
A: nǐ bà ba zài gàn má?
A: What is your father doing?
B: 我爸爸在公司工作
B: wǒ bà ba zài gōng sī gōng zuò
B: My father is working at the company
A: 小猫在哪儿?
A: xiǎo māo zài nǎr?
A: Where is the kitten?
B: 小猫在医院,医生在检查它
B: xiǎo māo zài yī yuàn, yī shēng zài jiǎn chá tā
B: The kitten is at the hospital, the doctor is examining it
作业 Homework & Practice
📝 Homework for next class:
1. 📍 Location Practice: Write 5 sentences using 在 + place (example: 我在学校 (wǒ zài xué xiào))
2. 🔄 Action Practice: Write 5 sentences using 在 + verb for ongoing actions (example: 我在吃饭 (wǒ zài chī fàn))
3. 🗣️ Family Dialogue: Create a phone conversation asking family members where they are and what they're doing using the class phrases
4. 🏥 Story Writing: Write a short story about visiting someone at the hospital using 在 (zài) for both location and actions
5. 🎯 Question Practice: Practice asking and answering these questions:
• 你在哪儿?(nǐ zài nǎr?) (Where are you?)
• 你在干吗?(nǐ zài gàn má?) (What are you doing?)
• 你爸爸在哪儿?(nǐ bà ba zài nǎr?) (Where is your father?)
6. 🌟 Progressive Practice: Compare 在 (zài) vs 正在 (zhèng zài) - write 3 pairs of sentences showing the difference
💡 Daily Challenge: Every time someone asks you where you are or what you're doing, answer in Chinese using 我在... (wǒ zài...) patterns!
Practice Checklist:
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