在

zài
HSK 1
#6 most
frequent character
(located) at, (to be) in, to exist
preposition
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

在 first meant 'to exist'. It was built from two sound parts, 才 cái and 士 shì; 士 has since become 土, and 才 also changed shape. The meaning then grew to 'to be at'.

在 as a component in other characters

sound1 character
茬

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Example Sentences

我在家。
wǒzài jiā 。
I am at home.
他在吃饭。
tāzài chīfàn 。
He is eating.
我们在学校学习。
wǒmen zài xuéxiào xuéxí 。
We are studying at school.

Grammar Points

HSK 1
Expressing actions in progress with "zai"
HSK 1
Expressing existence in a place with "zai"
HSK 1
Indicating location with "zai" before verbs
HSK 2
Special cases of "zai" following verbs

Homophones

HSK 2
再zài
again, once more, re-, second
载zài
to carry, to convey, to load

Words Starting With 在

在乎zài hu
determined by; to care about; to mind
在意zài yì
to care about; to mind

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Public Lists with 在

HSK 1
All words for the HSK 1 test
Basic Verbs
Core action verbs like 'go,' 'come,' 'eat,' 'see,' commonly encountered in HSK.
Directions & Location
Above, below, left, right, inside, outside, near, far, north, south, etc.