HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
在: be in, at; do something somewhere
在 says where something is (他在家) or where an action happens (他在家看书).
Structure
- Person / thing + 在 + place
- Subject + 在 + place + verb
How it works
As a verb, 在 says where someone or something is: 我在学校, 你的书在桌子上.
Before another verb, 在 + place says where the action happens. The place comes before the verb, not after: 我在饭店吃饭, not 我吃饭在饭店.
The negative is 不在: 他不在家.
Examples
-
我在家。
Wǒ zài jiā.
I’m at home.
-
你的手机在桌子上。
Nǐ de shǒujī zài zhuōzi shàng.
Your phone is on the table.
-
他在医院工作。
Tā zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.
He works at a hospital.
-
我们在饭店吃饭吧。
Wǒmen zài fàndiàn chī fàn ba.
Let’s eat at a restaurant.
-
王老师不在学校。
Wáng lǎoshī bú zài xuéxiào.
Teacher Wang isn’t at school.
Words in these examples (19)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table; desk | HSK 1 |
| 上 | shàng | up; on; above; to go up; to get on; previous | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital | HSK 1 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job; work | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant; hotel | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我工作在医院。
✓我在医院工作。
Put 在 + place before the verb.
-
✗他是在家。
✓他在家。
在 is the verb here; don’t add 是.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我妈妈 商店买东西。
2. 你的书 桌子上。
3. 他今天不 家。