Existence in a place in Chinese

Grammar Point:
Chinese indicates the existence of something in a particular place by adding the verb 在 zài. In this function, 在 zài can be translated as ‘be in’ or ‘be at’ in English.

Structure

S + 在 zài + location

我wǒ在zài家jiā我wǒ在zài家jiā
I am at home.

老師lǎoshī在zài美國měiguó老师lǎoshī在zài美国měiguó
The teacher is in the U.S.

圖書館túshūguǎn在zài學校xuéxiào的de3 樓lóu图书馆túshūguǎn在zài学校xuéxiào的de3 楼lóu
The library is located on the 3rd floor of the school.

📚 Some common location words you may need

S + 在 zài + location + do what

我wǒ在zài家jiā聽tīng音樂yīnyuè我wǒ在zài家jiā听tīng音乐yīnyuè
I listen to music at home.

老師lǎoshī在zài美國Měiguó教jiào中文zhōngwén老师lǎoshī在zài美国Měiguó教jiào中文zhōngwén
The Teacher teaches Chinese in the U.S.

我wǒ在zài廁所cèsuǒ做zuò蛋糕dàngāo！ 我wǒ在zài卫生间wèishēngjiān做zuò蛋糕dàngāo！
I’m making cakes in the toilet!
(It means I am pooping.)

Negation

Both 不 bù and 沒没 méi are possible, but 不 bù is more about one’s subjective will, while 沒没 méi is an objective fact. It’s important to remember that in Chinese, talking about a fact usually implies the past tense, as the past cannot be changed. Therefore, if you’re asking about someone’s current location, it’s more appropriate to use 不 bù to negate it.

他tā不bú在zài公司gōngsī他tā不bú在zài公司gōngsī
He is not at the company.

他tā去年qùnián沒méi在zài中國Zhōngguó學xué中文zhōngwén他tā去年qùnián没méi在zài中国Zhōngguó学xué中文zhōngwén
He did not study Chinese in China last year.

哥哥gēge不bú在zài電影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn電影diànyǐng哥哥gēge不bú在zài电影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn电影diànyǐng
My older brother is not watching movies in the cinema.

哥哥gēge沒méi在zài電影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn電影diànyǐng哥哥gēge没méi在zài电影院diànyǐngyuàn看kàn电影diànyǐng
My older brother did not watch movies in the cinema.

Question

There are 3 different ways we can turn it into a question.

Using 嗎/吗 ma

她tā在zàiApple 上班shàngbān嗎ma？ 她tā在zàiApple 上班shàngbān吗ma？
Does she work at Apple?

李大明Lǐdàmíng常常chángcháng在zài學校xuéxiào打人dǎrén嗎ma？ 李大明Lǐdàmíng常常chángcháng在zài学校xuéxiào打人dǎrén吗ma？
Does Daming Lee often beat people at school?

Using 哪 nǎ

她tā在zài哪nǎ上班shàngbān？ 她tā在zài哪nǎ上班shàngbān？
Where does she work?

你nǐ今天jīntiān在zài哪nǎ吃飯chīfàn？ 你nǐ今天jīntiān在zài哪nǎ吃饭chīfàn？
Where are you eating today?

Using 在不在 zàibúzài

她tā在不在zàibúzàiApple 上班shàngbān？ 她tā在不在zàibúzàiApple 上班shàngbān？
Does she work at Apple?

我wǒ先生xiānshēng在不在zàibúzài妳家nǎijiā？ 我wǒ先生xiānsheng在不在zàibúzài妳家nǎijiā？
Is my husband at your place?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

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她tā在zài學校xuéxiào丟diū垃圾lèsè她tā在zài学校xuéxiào丢diū垃圾lājī

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他tā在zài便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn喝hē咖啡kāfēi他tā在zài便利商店biànlìshāngdiàn喝hē咖啡kāfēi

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她tā在zài家jiā裡lǐ跳舞tiàowǔ她tā在zài家jiā里lǐ跳舞tiàowǔ

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她tā在zài浴室yùshì吃飯chīfàn她tā在zài浴室yùshì吃饭chīfàn

• Actions in progress with 在 zài (HSK 1)

• Expressing locations with 在 zài (HSK 1)