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Mandarin Pathways
Grammar reference

Subject + 在 + Place

在 (zài) — location sentences

在 means 'to be at/in' a place: 我在家 (I'm at home). It can also come before a verb to mean 'in/at [place], [do something]': 我在学校学习 (I study at school). Don't confuse it with 是 — 在 is for location, 是 is for identity.

Examples

  • 我在家。
    zài jiā

    I'm at home.

  • 他在中国工作。
    zài zhōng guó gōng zuò

    He works in China.

  • 书在桌子上。
    shū zài zhuō zi shàng

    The book is on the table.

Practice this pattern

Fill in the missing character:

我_家。

I'm at home.