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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

在...上, 在...下 and 在...中 for “In Terms Of,” “With” and “During”

Beyond real places, 在…上 frames an area (在学习上), 在…下 a condition or help (在老师的帮助下), and 在…中 a process or event (在旅行中).

Pattern

在 + noun + 上 / 下 / 中, main clause

在…上 = in the area of; 在…下 = under a condition, with someone’s help; 在…中 = during, in the course of.

在老师的帮助下，我的汉语好多了。

When to use 在...上, 在...下 and 在...中 for “In Terms Of,” “With” and “During”

You already know 在桌子上 “on the table.” The same frame 在 + noun + 上/下/中 is also used for ideas, not places, and it usually opens the sentence. 在…上 names the area a statement is about: 在学习上 “when it comes to study,” 在这个问题上 “on this question.” 在…下 names the condition or help that makes something happen, usually 在 + someone’s + 帮助/努力/关心 + 下: 在老师的帮助下 “with the teacher’s help.” 在…中 places the main event inside a process or event: 在旅行中 “during the trip,” 在这次考试中 “in this exam.”

在这个问题上，我们的看法不一样。

On this question, our views are different.

在旅行中，我认识了很多新朋友。

During the trip, I made lots of new friends.

他在学习上很认真。

He is very serious about his studies.

在大家的努力下，问题终于解决了。

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the problem was finally solved.

Common traps

  • Pick the frame by meaning: an area takes 上 (在学习上), help or a condition takes 下 (在老师的帮助下), a process takes 中 (在旅行中).
  • In 在…下, keep the order 在 + person + 的 + 帮助 + 下, not 在帮助下老师.
  • The 在 frame goes at the start of the sentence or right after the subject, not at the end: 他在学习上很认真.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

在大家的努力 ，问题终于解决了

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the problem was finally solved
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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