Don’t worry, your eyes are fine, and your computer is not burning a hole either. The jumping fire on the character zai 在 just a little reminder to tell you that zai4 can be used to show continuous motion as the jumping fire up and down, up and down … Cast some fire on your mind next time when you read the word zai ….
In Chinese language, the particle zai4 在 has several functions.
Zai4 functions as a preposition word.
A preposition word is a word that connects a noun, pronoun, or phrase to other words in a sentence, and it can indicate the following relationships: direction (to, toward, through); place (at, by, on); purpose (for); source (from, out of); and time (at, before, on).
Zai4 is most often used to indicate location. When used before a place word, zai4 means in, on, or at.
Location – Zai4
For example:
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 **zài4** xue2 xiao4.
他**在**学校｡
He is **at** school.
Shu1 **zai4** zhuo1 shang4.
书**在**桌上。
The book is **on** the table.
Yi1 fu2 **zai4** bi4 chu2 li3.
衣服 **在** 壁橱里。
The cloth is **in** the closet.
If you want to negate the sentence, you just need to place 不 bu4 before zai4 在. Remember that 不 bu4 has two tone change rules.When bu is in front of fourth tone word, bu4 will be changed to second tone bu2. When bu4 got placed before other tones (1, 2 or 3 tones), it remains the fourth tone bu4.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to1.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 **bu2 zai4** xue2 xiao4.
他**不在**学校｡
He is not **at** school.
Shu1 **bu2 zai4** zhuo1 shang4.
书**不在**桌上。
The book is not **on** the table.
Yi1 fu2 ** bu2 zai4** bi4 chu2 li3.
衣服 **不在** 壁橱里。
The cloth is not in the closet.
Use 在 zai4 to form question sentences.
To form yes or no question sentences with question marker 吗 ma5.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to2.mp3|titles=listen to]
Shu1 **zai4** zhuo1 shang4 **ma5**?
书**在**桌上吗？
Is the book **on** the table?
or you can negate the question as
Shu1 **bu2 zai4** zhuo1 shang4 **ma5**?
书**不在**桌上吗？
Isn’t the book **on** the table?
or take away the question marker ma5 and use 在不在 zai4 bu2 zai4 in front of the noun or pronoun to form question sentences.
Shu1 **zai4 bu2 zai4** zhuo1 shang4 ?
书**在不在**桌上？
Is the book **on** the table or not?
Form open end question sentences with question marker 呢 ne5.
Ni3 zai4 chi1 shen2 me5 ** ne5 **? (The answers can be many, so it is called open-ended questions.)
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to3.mp3|titles=listen to]
你在吃什么**呢**？
What are you eating?
Form open-ended question sentences with question pronoun na3 li5 哪裡
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to5.mp3|titles=listen to]
Bi3 zai4 **na3 li5**?
Where is the pen?
笔在**哪裡**?
Zai functions as a preposition to indicate where an action takes place:
subject + zai4 + place + verb
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to6.mp3|titles=listen to]
他们**在**客厅吃东西｡
Ta1 men5 **zai4** ke4 ting1 chi1 dong1 xi5.
They are eating **in** the living room.
Zai functions as an adverbial adjunct or complement when it got placed in front of a verb it modifies to show continuous action of that moment. This usage of zai is like the -ing suffix in English ( at V+ ing”). There is an alternative to zai4 — zheng4 zai4 正在.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to7.mp3|titles=listen to]
他们**在**跳舞｡
Ta1 men5** zai4 **tiao4 wu3.
They are dancing.
她**在**睡觉｡
Ta1 **zai4 **shui4 jiao4.
She is sleeping.
To negate the verb, you can use 不 bu2 or 没 mei2 （mei2 you3 没有）. The verb 有 you3 is always negated with 没 mei2 （never say 不有 bu4 you3).
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to8.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 men5 **bu2 zai4** tiao4 wu3.
They are not dancing.
他们**不在**跳舞｡
Ta1 **mei2 zai4** shui4 jiao4.
She is not sleeping.
她**没在**睡觉｡
In the usage of showing continuous action, there is an alternative to zai4 — zheng4 zai4 正在.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to9.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 men5 **zheng4 zai4** tiao4 wu3.
They are dancing.
他们**正在**跳舞｡
Ta1 **zheng4 zai4** shui4 jiao4.
She is sleeping.
她**正在**睡觉｡
The modal particle ne5 呢 can also be added to the end of the sentence for the same purpose. So the previous sentences can also be:
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to10.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 men5 **zai4** tiao4 wu3** ne5**.
They are dancing.
他们**在**跳舞**呢**｡
Ta1 **zai4** shui4 jiao4 **ne5**.
She is sleeping.
她**在**睡觉**呢**｡
or you can omit zai4
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/listen-to12.mp3|titles=listen to]
Ta1 men5 tiao4 wu3 **ne5**.
They are dancing.
他们跳舞**呢**｡
Ta1 shui4 jiao4 **ne5**.
She is sleeping.
她睡觉**呢**｡
Now, it is time to find a song. I went to my song list first, and yes, and I found one:) Jackie Chan (Cheng Long) 成龙 – 壮志在我胸 Aspirations in my chest Zhuang zhi zai wo xiong. Jackie Chan is very silly and funny in this video.
If you like to learn how to sing it, you can check out the lyrics, pinyin and English translation at Jackie Chan (Cheng Long) 成龙 – 壮志在我胸 Aspirations in my chest Zhuang zhi zai wo xiong
It is easy to find a preposition word in English songs (there are so many preposition words in English), but this one is really special and with two versions! Why I chose this song? Heart is in the chest, so these two songs and Jackie Chan’s aspiration in my chest are somehow related in two ways — all have preposition word in, and both have something to do with chest.
Usher – You’ll Be In My Heart (Official Lyrics)
and
the original–You’ll Be In My Heart (With Lyrics)-Tarzan and Phil Collins
12 Responses to Chinese grammar, usage of zai – as preposition for location, form question sentence, show continuous action as an adverbial adjunct; use zai bu zai to form question, how to negate zai, ne as continuous action maker. Jackie Chan Aspiration in my chest and Tarzan, Usher You’ll Be In My Heart