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zài
HSK 2.0 Level 1 HSK 3.0 Level 1

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Definitions

  1. 1. to exist; to be alive
  2. 2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at
  3. 3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)

Example Sentences

1 shown
Tom聽到Mary 彈鋼琴。
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 1178241)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org.

Words Containing 在

现在式
xiàn zài shì

present tense

危在旦夕
wēi zài dàn xī

in imminent peril (idiom)

有约在先
yǒu yuē zài xiān

to have a prior engagement

揣在怀里
chuāi zài huái lǐ

to tuck into one's bosom

养兵千日,用在一时
yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng zài yī shí

see 養兵千日,用兵一時|养兵千日,用兵一时[yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng bīng yī shí]

美国在线
měi guó zài xiàn

America Online (AOL)

潜在危险度
qián zài wēi xiǎn dù

latent hazard

智珠在握
zhì zhū zài wò

fig. to be endowed with extraordinary intelligence

常在河边走,哪有不湿鞋
cháng zài hé biān zǒu , nǎ yǒu bù shī xié

a person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet (proverb)

在即
zài jí

near at hand

毛出在羊身上
máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng

lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.

不在状态
bù zài zhuàng tài

to be out of form

不在话下
bù zài huà xià

to be nothing difficult

处在
chǔ zài

to be situated at

内在
nèi zài

inner

在所不计
zài suǒ bù jì

irrespective of

大权在握
dà quán zài wò

to be in a position of power

如鲠在喉
rú gěng zài hóu

lit. as if having a fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom)

心不在焉
xīn bù zài yān

absent-minded

在家千日好,出门一时难
zài jiā qiān rì hǎo , chū mén yī shí nán

lit. at home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort, but spending a day away from home can be challenging (idiom)

潜在媒介
qián zài méi jiè

potential vector

胜利在望
shèng lì zài wàng

victory is in sight

看在
kàn zài

(in the expression 看在…的份上[kàn zài xx5 de fèn shàng]) for the sake of ...

在室内
zài shì nèi

indoors

实在
shí zài

really

自在
zì zai

comfortable; at ease

包在我身上
bāo zài wǒ shēn shang

leave it to me (idiom)

所在
suǒ zài

place

人在江湖,身不由己
rén zài jiāng hú , shēn bù yóu jǐ

you can't always do as you like

自繇自在
zì yóu zì zai

free and easy (idiom); carefree

谁笑在最后,谁笑得最好
shéi xiào zài zuì hòu , shéi xiào dé zuì hǎo

He laughs best who laughs last.

好戏还在后头
hǎo xì hái zài hòu tou

the best part of the show is yet to come

在天愿做比翼鸟,在地愿做连理枝
zài tiān yuàn zuò bǐ yì niǎo , zài dì yuàn zuò lián lǐ zhī

In the sky to be two birds flying wing to wing, on earth to be two trees with branches intertwined

言犹在耳
yán yóu zài ěr

words still ringing in one's ears (idiom)

在身
zài shēn

to possess

在野党
zài yě dǎng

opposition party

势在必得
shì zài bì dé

to be determined to win (idiom)

外在超越
wài zài chāo yuè

outer transcendence (perfection through the agency of God)

一个幽灵在欧洲游荡
yī gè yōu líng zài ōu zhōu yóu dàng

Ein Gespenst geht um in Europa.

蒙在鼓里
méng zài gǔ lǐ

lit. kept inside a drum (idiom)

乐在其中
lè zài qí zhōng

to take pleasure in sth (idiom)

潜在
qián zài

hidden

在职
zài zhí

to be employed

项庄舞剑,志在沛公
xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn , zhì zài pèi gōng

see 項莊舞劍,意在沛公|项庄舞剑,意在沛公[xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài pèi gōng]

在途
zài tú

in transit (of passengers, goods etc)

逍遥自在
xiāo yáo zì zai

free and at leisure (idiom); unfettered

直到现在
zhí dào xiàn zài

even now

在行
zài háng

to be adept at sth

意存笔先,画尽意在
yì cún bǐ xiān , huà jìn yì zài

the idea is present before the first stroke of the brush, when the last stroke is placed the idea shines through

事在人为
shì zài rén wéi

the matter depends on the individual (idiom); it is a matter for your own effort

老鼠拖木锨,大头在后头
lǎo shǔ tuō mù xiān , dà tóu zài hòu tou

when the mice drag a shovel, the biggest thing comes second

丑话说在前头
chǒu huà shuō zài qián tou

let's talk about the unpleasant things first; let's be frank

不在
bù zài

not to be present

在岗
zài gǎng

to be at one's post

在逃
zài táo

to be at large (of a criminal)

在户外
zài hù wài

outdoors

在我看
zài wǒ kàn

in my opinion

到现在
dào xiàn zài

up until now

在编
zài biān

to be on the regular payroll

在此之前
zài cǐ zhī qián

before that

命在旦夕
mìng zài dàn xī

to be at death's door (idiom)

并不在乎
bìng bù zài hu

really does not care

在乎
zài hu

to care about

留得青山在,不怕没柴烧
liú de qīng shān zài , bù pà méi chái shāo

While the green hills last, there'll be wood to burn (idiom). Where there's life there's hope.

不要在一棵树上吊死
bù yào zài yī kē shù shàng diào sǐ

don't insist on only taking one road to Rome (idiom)

包子有肉不在褶上
bāo zi yǒu ròu bù zài zhě shàng

a book is not judged by its cover (idiom)

正在
zhèng zài

just at (that time)

在地下
zài dì xià

underground

大有人在
dà yǒu rén zài

there are plenty of such people

内在超越
nèi zài chāo yuè

inner transcendence (perfection through one's own inner moral cultivation, as in Confucianism, for example)

在所难免
zài suǒ nán miǎn

to be unavoidable (idiom)

安闲自在
ān xián zì zai

leisurely and free (idiom); carefree and at ease

在线
zài xiàn

online

在世
zài shì

to be alive

在我看来
zài wǒ kàn lái

in my opinion

潜在威胁
qián zài wēi xié

potential threat

好在
hǎo zài

luckily

内在坐标
nèi zài zuò biāo

intrinsic coordinates (geometry)

挂在嘴边
guà zài zuǐ biān

to keep saying (sth) over and over

在朝
zài cháo

sitting (currently serving, e.g. board members)

存在
cún zài

to exist

迫在眉睫
pò zài méi jié

pressing in on one's eyelashes (idiom); imminent

在所不辞
zài suǒ bù cí

not to refuse to (idiom)

在这期间
zài zhè qī jiān

during time

在内
zài nèi

(included) in it

珠玉在侧
zhū yù zài cè

gems at the side (idiom); flanked by genius

在此之后
zài cǐ zhī hòu

after this

不在乎
bù zài hu

not to care

自由自在
zì yóu zì zài

free and easy (idiom); carefree

羊毛出在羊身上
yáng máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng

lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.

早在
zǎo zài

as early as

势在必行
shì zài bì xíng

circumstances require action (idiom); absolutely necessary

放在心上
fàng zài xīn shàng

to care about

在此后
zài cǐ hòu

after this

在台
zài tái

in Taiwan (used attributively)

在意
zài yì

to care about

旨在
zhǐ zài

to have as its purpose

满不在乎
mǎn bù zài hu

not in the least concerned (idiom)

近在眼前
jìn zài yǎn qián

right under one's nose; right in front of one's eyes; close at hand; imminent

在场
zài chǎng

to be present

在座
zài zuò

to be present

在下方
zài xià fāng

beneath

不在意
bù zài yì

to pay no attention to

妙在不言中
miào zài bù yán zhōng

the charm lies in what is left unsaid (idiom)

近在咫尺
jìn zài zhǐ chǐ

to be almost within reach

在诉讼期间
zài sù sòng qī jiān

pendente lite

在下
zài xià

under

在家
zài jiā

to be at home

独在异乡为异客
dú zài yì xiāng wéi yì kè

a stranger in a strange land (from a poem by Wang Wei 王維|王维[wáng wéi])

现在
xiàn zài

now

在此
zài cǐ

hereto

在位时代
zài wèi shí dài

reign (of a king, emperor etc)

生命在于运动
shēng mìng zài yú yùn dòng

life is motion (popular saying with many possible interpretations)

芒刺在背
máng cì zài bèi

feeling brambles and thorns in one's back (idiom)

义之所在
yì zhī suǒ zài

justice is to be found everywhere (idiom)

在华
zài huá

within China

在深处
zài shēn chù

deeply

在位
zài wèi

on the throne

在这之前
zài zhè zhī qián

before then

太阳照在桑干河上
tài yáng zhào zài sāng gān hé shàng

The Sun Shines over the Sanggan River, proletarian novel by Ding Ling, winner of 1951 Stalin prize

不在其位不谋其政
bù zài qí wèi bù móu qí zhèng

don't meddle in affairs that are not part of your position (Confucius)

现在分词
xiàn zài fēn cí

present participle (in English grammar)

无所不在
wú suǒ bù zài

omnipresent

在教
zài jiào

to be a believer (in a religion, esp. Islam)

闲在
xián zai

at leisure

项庄舞剑,意在沛公
xiàng zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài pèi gōng

lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦|刘邦[liú bāng] (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang, aka Duke of Pei 沛公[pèi gōng] and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at the Hongmen feast 鴻門宴|鸿门宴[hóng mén yàn]

记在心里
jì zài xīn li

to keep in mind

在地
zài dì

local

身在福中不知福
shēn zài fú zhōng bù zhī fú

to live in plenty without appreciating it (idiom); not to know when one is well off

在枪口
zài qiāng kǒu

at gunpoint

不听老人言,吃亏在眼前
bù tīng lǎo rén yán , chī kuī zài yǎn qián

(idiom) ignore your elders at your peril

无限风光在险峰
wú xiàn fēng guāng zài xiǎn fēng

The boundless vista is at the perilous peak (proverb)

怀恨在心
huái hèn zài xīn

to harbor hard feelings

骨鲠在喉
gǔ gěng zài hóu

fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom); fig. to feel obliged to speak out candidly

鲜花插在牛粪上
xiān huā chā zài niú fèn shàng

lit. a bunch of flowers poked into a pile of manure

在握
zài wò

to be within grasp

历历在目
lì lì zài mù

vivid in one's mind (idiom)

在家靠父母,出门靠朋友
zài jiā kào fù mǔ , chū mén kào péng you

one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)

在旁
zài páng

alongside

螳螂捕蝉,黄雀在后
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu

the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[zhuāng zǐ]); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger

聚在一起
jù zài yī qǐ

to get together

高高在上
gāo gāo zài shàng

set up on high (idiom); not in touch with reality

养兵千日,用在一朝
yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng zài yī zhāo

lit. train an army for a thousand days to use it for one morning (idiom)

内在美
nèi zài měi

inner beauty

在后
zài hòu

behind

困难在于
kùn nan zài yú

the problem is...

在野
zài yě

to be out of (political) office

穷在闹市无人问,富在深山有远亲
qióng zài nào shì wú rén wèn , fù zài shēn shān yǒu yuǎn qīn

the poor are ignored in the busiest city; the rich will find relatives in the deepest mountain

在理
zài lǐ

reasonable

志不在此
zhì bù zài cǐ

to have one's ambitions elsewhere (idiom)

老神在在
lǎo shén zài zài

calm; unperturbed (from Taiwanese, Tai-lo pr. [lāu-sîn-tsāi-tsāi])

在下面
zài xià miàn

underneath

存在主义
cún zài zhǔ yì

existentialism

醉翁之意不在酒
zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ

wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol

在高处
zài gāo chù

aloft

念兹在兹
niàn zī zài zī

see 念念不忘[niàn niàn bù wàng]

搋在怀里
chuāi zài huái lǐ

to tuck into one's bosom

在家靠父母,出外靠朋友
zài jiā kào fù mǔ , chū wài kào péng you

one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)

在前
zài qián

ahead

在外
zài wài

outer

一日之计在于晨
yī rì zhī jì zài yú chén

make your day's plan early in the morning (idiom)

谋事在人,成事在天
móu shì zài rén , chéng shì zài tiān

planning is with man, accomplishing with heaven (idiom); Man proposes but God disposes.

在天之灵
zài tiān zhī líng

soul and spirit of the deceased

放在眼里
fàng zài yǎn lǐ

to pay attention to

不自在
bù zì zai

uneasy

不在了
bù zài le

to be dead

外在
wài zài

external

师父领进门,修行在个人
shī fu lǐng jìn mén , xiū xíng zài gè rén

the master leads you to the door, the rest is up to you

文在寅
wén zài yín

Moon Jae-in (1953-), Korean politician and human rights lawyer, president of Korea from 2017

找不自在
zhǎo bù zì zai

to ask for trouble

志在四方
zhì zài sì fāng

to aspire to travel far and make one's mark (idiom)

成竹在胸
chéng zhú zài xiōng

see 胸有成竹[xiōng yǒu chéng zhú]

肉烂在锅里
ròu làn zài guō lǐ

lit. the meat falls apart as it stews, but it all stays in the pot (idiom)

在眼前
zài yǎn qián

now

在先
zài xiān

to come first

无处不在
wú chù bù zài

to be everywhere

成败在此一举
chéng bài zài cǐ yī jǔ

win or lose, it all ends here

居心何在
jū xīn hé zài

What's (he) up to?

身在曹营心在汉
shēn zài cáo yíng xīn zài hàn

live in Cao camp but have the heart in Han camp (idiom)

内在几何学
nèi zài jǐ hé xué

intrinsic geometry

在读
zài dú

to be studying (at a school or research institute)

把心放在肚子里
bǎ xīn fàng zài dù zi lǐ

(coll.) to be completely at ease

在一起
zài yī qǐ

together

何在
hé zài

where?

看在眼里
kàn zài yǎn li

to observe

一年之计在于春
yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn

the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom)

在此之际
zài cǐ zhī jì

meanwhile

所在地
suǒ zài dì

location

在职训练
zài zhí xùn liàn

on-the-job training

挂在嘴上
guà zai zuǐ shang

to pay lip service to

在于
zài yú

to be in

设在
shè zài

to set up in (a particular location)

左券在握
zuǒ quàn zài wò

to be assured of success (idiom)

内在几何
nèi zài jǐ hé

intrinsic geometry

同在
tóng zài

to be with