在 zài as On-going Actions

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the way to express on-going actions is by adding the auxiliary verbs 在 zài or 正在 zhèngzài in front of the verb. 在 zài is used for both short-term and long-term progress, while 正在 zhèngzài is used to emphasize the ongoing action at that moment. In spoken language, we prefer to use the word 在 zài.

Structure

S + 在zài / 正在zhèngzài + V + O

我wǒ在zài學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ在zài学xué中文zhōngwén
I am learning Chinese.
(It can either be at this moment you are learning Chinese or you are in the process of learning Chinese.)

我wǒ正在zhèngzài學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ正在zhèngzài学xué中文zhōngwén
I am learning Chinese now.
(At this moment, you are learning Chinese.)

Because text cannot convey intonation, sometimes when people send a message, they add 呢 ne at the end of the sentence to soften the tone

我wǒ正在zhèngzài看kàn電視diànshì呢ne！ 你nǐ等一下děngyíxià！ 我wǒ正在zhèngzài看kàn电视diànshì呢ne！ 你nǐ等一下děngyíxià！
I am watching TV now! Please wait for a second.

爸爸bàba在zài生氣shēngqì， 你nǐ現在xiànzài別bié去qù跟gēn他tā說話shuōhuà爸爸bàba在zài生气shēngqì， 你nǐ现在xiànzài别bié去qù跟gēn他tā说话shuōhuà
Dad is angry, don’t talk to him now.
(Angry is not an adjective in Chinese. It is a verb object compound word.)

FYI
When sending messages to our Chinese friends, it’s common to see them using “在忙嗎吗 zài máng ma?” to ask if we’re busy and “在嗎吗 zài ma?” to check if we’re available.

Negation

When negating 在 zài or 正在 zhèngzài, in 95 percent of situations, you should use 没 méi instead of 不 bù. This is because we are negating a simple fact, rather than a personal decision or intention

老師lǎoshī沒méi在zài教課jiāokè老师lǎoshī没méi在zài教课jiāokè
The teacher is not teaching.

他tā沒méi在zài寫xiě作業zuòyè， 他tā在zài睡覺shuìjiào他tā没méi在zài写xiě作业zuòyè， 他tā在zài睡觉shuìjiào
He is not writing his homework. He is sleeping now.
(No judgment or criticism. Just simply deny the fact.)

你nǐ為什麼wèishénme不bú在zài寫xiě作業zuòyè！？ 你nǐ为什么wèishénme不bú在zài写xiě作业zuòyè！？
Why are you not working on your homework!?
(This question conveys a personal feeling or expectation, rather than simply stating a fact.)

Question

You can add the question particle 嗎吗 ma at the end of a sentence to turn it into a question. However, you cannot use the 在不在 zài bú zài structure to form a question.

小xiǎo狗gǒu在zài吃飯chīfàn嗎ma？ 小xiǎo狗gǒu在zài吃饭chīfàn吗ma？
The puppy is eating?

小xiǎo狗gǒu沒méi在zài吃飯chīfàn嗎ma？ 小xiǎo狗gǒu没méi在zài吃饭chīfàn吗ma？
The puppy is not eating?

小xiǎo貓māo在zài不bú在zài睡覺shuìjiào？ 小xiǎo猫māo在zài不bú在zài睡觉shuìjiào？ ❌
Is the kitten sleeping?

In Taiwan, there is a common way to form a question using 有沒有 yǒuméiyǒu + 在 zài, but it is not considered standard Chinese. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it in your HSK test.

你nǐ有沒有yǒuméiyǒu在zài看書kànshū？ 你nǐ有没有yǒuméiyǒu在zài看书kànshū？
Are you reading books?

他tā有沒有yǒuméiyǒu在zài睡覺shuìjiào？ 他tā有没有yǒuméiyǒu在zài睡觉shuìjiào？
Is he sleeping now？

• Existence in a place with 在 zài (HSK 1)

• Expressing locations with 在 zài (HSK 1)