ZiMaster Dictionary My decks

Word

在 (zài) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

在 (zài) is a Chinese word: to be at/in. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 在

动 dòng verb

to be at/in

他在家。

tā zài jiā

He is at home.

副 fù adverb

in the process of (progressive aspect marker)

他在看书。

tā zài kàn shū

He is reading a book.

Log in to add your own translations

Word breakdown

在 zài — to be at/in

Words with this character (19)
Show more (+14)
  • 6 在内 zài nèi — included HSK 5
    • 在 being in/at (indicates location or state)
    • 内 inside, within (indicates being part of a group)
    Example

    一共有十个人，我在内。

    yī gòng yǒu shí gè rén wǒ zài nèi

    There are ten people in total, me included.

  • 7 在场 zài chǎng — to be present HSK 5
    • 在 to be at/in (indicates presence at a location)
    • 场 scene/place (the location where something occurs)
    Example

    事故发生时，他刚好在场。

    shì gù fā shēng shí tā gāng hǎo zài chǎng

    He happened to be present when the accident occurred.

  • 8 在线 zài xiàn — online HSK 5
    • 在 at/in (indicates a state of being)
    • 线 line (refers to network/internet connection)
    Example

    我一直在线等你的消息。

    wǒ yì zhí zài xiàn děng nǐ de xiāo xi

    I've been online waiting for your message.

  • 9 存在 cún zài — to exist HSK 5
    • 存 to remain, to preserve
    • 在 to be (at a location), present
    Example

    问题依然存在。

    wèn tí yī rán cún zài

    The problem still exists.

  • 10 在意 zài yì — to mind HSK 6
    • 在 to be in (one's mind)
    • 意 mind, thought
    Example

    我不在意别人的看法。

    wǒ bù zài yì bié rén de kàn fǎ

    I don't mind other people's opinions.

  • 11 内在 nèi zài — intrinsic HSK 7
    • 内 inside, inner, internal
    • 在 to exist, to be present
    Example

    内在的价值比外表更重要。

    nèi zài de jià zhí bǐ wài biǎo gèng zhòng yào

    Intrinsic value is more important than appearance.

  • 12 在所难免 zài suǒ nán miǎn — unavoidable, inevitable HSK 7
    • 在 be at/in; indicates the state of being
    • 所 that which; nominalizer marking what follows
    • 难 difficult; indicates difficulty
    • 免 avoid, escape; the action that is difficult to do
    Example

    新手开车，出点小错误在所难免。

    xīn shǒu kāi chē chū diǎn xiǎo cuò wù zài suǒ nán miǎn

    When novices drive, making small mistakes is unavoidable.

  • 13 在职 zài zhí — employed HSK 7
    • 在 being in, at (indicating current state)
    • 职 job, position, office
    Example

    她目前在职,不能全职读书。

    tā mù qián zài zhí bù néng quán zhí dú shū

    She is currently employed and cannot study full-time.

  • 14 外在 wài zài — external HSK 7
    • 外 outer, external
    • 在 existing, being
    Example

    外在美不如内在美重要。

    wài zài měi bù rú nèi zài měi zhòng yào

    External beauty is not as important as internal beauty.

  • 15 好在 hǎo zài — fortunately HSK 7
    • 好 good
    • 在 at, in (here: marks the condition/state)
    Example

    好在他及时赶到了。

    hǎo zài tā jí shí gǎn dào le

    Fortunately he arrived in time.

  • 16 所在 suǒ zài — location HSK 7
    • 所 nominalizing particle indicating 'the place'
    • 在 being located, existing at
    Example

    这个城市是我成长的所在。

    zhè ge chéng shì shì wǒ chéng zhǎng de suǒ zài

    This city is the place where I grew up.

  • 17 旨在 zhǐ zài — be aimed at, aim to HSK 7
    • 旨 purpose, aim, intention
    • 在 at, toward (directional marker)
    Example

    这个项目旨在提高学生的学习能力。

    zhè ge xiàng mù zhǐ zài tí gāo xué sheng de xué xí néng lì

    This project aims to improve students' learning abilities.

  • 18 潜在 qián zài — potential HSK 7
    • 潜 hidden, latent, submerged
    • 在 existing, being present
    Example

    我们需要发现潜在的问题。

    wǒ men xū yào fā xiàn qián zài de wèn tí

    We need to discover potential problems.

  • 19 自在 zì zài — at ease HSK 7
    • 自 self, oneself
    • 在 state of being, exist
    Example

    退休后，他过得很自在。

    tuì xiū hòu tā guò de hěn zì zài

    After retirement, he lives very comfortably.

Structure & writing
1 在 zài — to exist; to live

在 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 才 cái — talent; ability
才 is a component in 6 characters
HSK 1
在 zài to exist; to live
HSK 4
存 cún to exist; to be alive 材 cái timber; wood
HSK 5
团 tuán round; circular 闭 bì to close; to shut
HSK 6
财 cái wealth; money and material resources
1.2 土 tǔ — soil; earth (mixture of sand, clay, etc. on the ground)
土 is a component in 76 characters
HSK 1
再 zài twice; a second time 去 qù to go (away from the speaker, opposite of 来) 在 zài to exist; to live 坐 zuò to sit (resting buttocks on a chair or other surface) 块 kuài lump; chunk; clump
Show more HSK 1 characters (+1)
里 lǐ inner lining (of clothing, bedding, etc.); reverse side of a fabric
HSK 2
周 zhōu periphery; circle 地 dì the Earth, one of the eight planets in the solar system 场 chǎng a place or large area suited for certain needs 坏 huài evil; vicious; destructive 走 zǒu to walk; (of birds or animals) to move the feet forward alternately
HSK 3
城 chéng city wall 境 jìng border; boundary; frontier
HSK 4
压 yā to press down on an object (often from above) 圾 jī used in 垃圾: ① refuse, trash, waste matter; ② fig. harmful elements in society 址 zhǐ location of a building; foundation 垃 lā used in 垃圾 (lājī): ① garbage, refuse ② (attributive) worthless or harmful 基 jī foundation; base of a building
Show more HSK 4 characters (+9)
堂 táng main hall; large imposing room 堵 dǔ to block; to obstruct 塑 sù to model; to sculpt 填 tián to fill up or level a hollow place 增 zēng to increase (opposite of 减) 幸 xìng happy; fortunate 盐 yán salt (chemistry): compound composed of metal ions (including ammonium) and acid radicals 社 shè earth deity, and the place, day, and rites for worshipping it in ancient times 肚 dù belly; abdomen
HSK 5
均 jūn even; equal 型 xíng mold; model 域 yù territory; domain within defined boundaries 培 péi to heap soil around the base of a plant or embankment 堆 duī a pile; a heap of accumulated things
Show more HSK 5 characters (+1)
墙 qiáng wall (built of brick, stone, etc. to support a roof or divide spaces)
HSK 6
吐 tǔ to spit out (something from the mouth) 坛 tán raised platform used for ceremonies such as sacrifices or military oaths, typically built of earth and stone 坡 pō slope; incline 埋 mái to cover with sand, soil, or other material 塔 tǎ pagoda (Buddhist tower, originally housing sacred relics, polygonal or square with tapering tiers)
Show more HSK 6 characters (+4)
壁 bì wall 壤 rǎng loose, soft soil 尘 chén dust, flying dirt 庄 zhuāng village; rural settlement
HSK 7
啬 sè miserly, stingy with money or possessions 圣 shèng supremely exalted and wise 坊 fāng lane or alley (used in urban street names) 坎 kǎn one of the Eight Trigrams, symbol '☵', representing water 坑 kēng pit; hollow depression
Show more HSK 7 characters (+29)
坝 bà dam or embankment built to block or protect against a river 坟 fén grave mound; burial mound 坠 zhuì to fall; to drop down 坦 tǎn flat and wide 坪 píng flat open ground 坷 kě (lit.) used in '坎坷': ① (of roads) bumpy and uneven (opposite of '平坦'); ② figuratively, hardship and frustration; going poorly; unfulfilled 垄 lǒng ridge of soil in a ploughed field for planting crops 垒 lěi defensive wall or fortification in ancient military camps 垦 kěn to reclaim wasteland, to open up land for cultivation 垫 diàn to prop up, pad, or line something to raise, thicken, level, or insulate it 垮 kuǎ to collapse, to cave in 堕 duò to fall, to drop down 堡 bǎo fort; fortress 堤 dī embankment; dike built along a river, lake, or sea 堪 kān can; be able to; be worthy of 塌 tā to collapse, cave in 塘 táng embankment; dike 墅 shù villa; garden-style residence for leisure (usually in suburbs or scenic areas) 墓 mù grave; tomb 墟 xū ruins; a deserted place formerly inhabited by many people 墨 mò ink stick (made from soot or pine smoke); also the liquid ink made by grinding it with water 寺 sì ancient government office 捏 niē to pinch (with thumb and fingers) 杜 dù birchleaf pear tree (a deciduous tree with small, astringent fruit, used as main rootstock for grafting pears) 灶 zào stove or cooking range made of brick, earth, stone, or metal 牡 mǔ male (of birds and animals, opposite of 牝) 疆 jiāng border, boundary 睦 mù harmonious; amicable 赤 chì red; a shade slightly lighter than vermilion

Stroke order