在...呢 and ...呢 for Actions in Progress
Say what is happening right now with 在 or 正在 before the verb, add 呢 at the end for a friendly spoken tone, or use 呢 alone.
句型
subject + 在 / 正在 + verb (+ object) + 呢 / subject + verb (+ object) + 呢
在 or 正在 before the verb shows an action going on; 呢 at the end adds the same idea in speech. You can use them together (他在看书呢) or 呢 alone (他看书呢).
妈妈正在做饭呢。
When to use 在...呢 and ...呢 for Actions in Progress
To say an action is going on right now, put 在 or 正在 before the verb, and add 呢 at the end if you like: 他在看书呢 “he’s reading.” In everyday speech, 呢 alone at the end can also show that the action is going on: 他看书呢. So all of these work: 他在看书, 他正在看书, 他在看书呢, 他看书呢. 正在 stresses “right at this moment,” and 呢 makes the sentence sound natural and chatty, as when you tell someone what is happening.
他在看书呢。
He’s reading.
我们吃饭呢，你也来吃吧。
We’re eating; come and eat with us.
外边下雨呢，你别出去了。
It’s raining outside; don’t go out.
他没在睡觉，他在看书呢。
He isn’t sleeping; he’s reading.
常见误区
- 在 or 正在 goes before the verb and 呢 at the end: 他在看书呢, not 他看书在呢.
- For the negative, use 没在 + verb: 他没在看书. 他不在 usually means “he isn’t here.”
- Don’t use 在 or 呢 this way with verbs that aren’t actions, like 是, 有 or 知道: 我知道, not 我在知道.
针对性练习
先练这个句式，再继续往下看。