zài

  1. zài verb in; at
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: This sense of 在 indicates the location of the subject (NCCED '在' 2). For example, 祥子蹲在烤旁 'Xiangzi squatted besides the stove.'(Lao She, 2003, p. 216) In this example, the verb 蹲 'squat' precedes 在 but in some cases it may follow 在 after the location referred to. For example, 孩子...在院里玩耍... 'the child was in the courtyard playing.'(Lao She, 2003, p. 220) 在 is the seventh most frequently used word in the Beijing Language Institute's 1985 frequency wordlist (Ho 2002, '在').
  2. zài preposition at
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In this sense, 在 helps to indicate time, place, direction or scope (Li Shaoqi, 2003, pp. 404-407; NCCED '在' 6) 1. Time: 在 may be placed before a verb, adjective, or the subject to introduce time. For example, 世卫组织表示将在十一月发布建议 'The World Health Organization said that they would publish a recommendation in November.' 2. Place. For example, 火箭在距发射台约九公里处 'when the rocket was at a location approximately 90 kilometers from the launch pad.' (VOA, 2015-12-23) 3. Scope. For example, 总统在演讲中... 'while the president was giving a speech ...' (VOA, 2007-7-5)
  3. zài adverb when; indicates that someone or something is in the process of doing something
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: (Li Shaoqi, 2003, p. 224; NCCED '在' 5; Ho 2002, '在' 3) For example, 科学家们一直在探寻... 'Scientists have been continuously searching ...' (VOA, 2015-07-25)
  4. zài verb to exist; to be living
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (NCCED '在' 5; Ho 2002, '在' 2)
  5. zài verb to consist of
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (NCCED '在' 5)
  6. zài verb to be at a post
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: (NCCED '在' 5)
  7. zài verb in; bhū
    Domain: Buddhism 佛教
    Notes: Sanskrit equivalent: bhū, Japanese: zai (BCSD '在', p. 289; MW 'bhū'; SH '在', p. 206; Unihan '在')

Contained in

Also contained in

在意鲜花插在牛粪上在诉讼期间安闲自在在深处在座在世直到现在在前羊毛出在羊身上言犹在耳怀恨在心生命在于运动满不在乎在陈绝粮你在添上几个在握在家在枪口把心放在肚子里在先逍遥自在在那儿挂在嘴上

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Truncated for common words

Collocations