在 (zài): In — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

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Level 1

HSK 3.0:Recognition 1Writing 1-2

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Vocab 1 Recognition 1 Writing 1-2

1.

Animated Stroke Order 在

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

1,118 learners practiced this

2.

Readings & Meanings

在has 2 distinct senses for the same pronunciation

zài

1.in; at; on

2.to be at; in; at; on

v./prep.HSK 1 HSK 3.0 · L1

3.

Stroke Order Diagrams 在

4.

Character Breakdown

Semi-Enclosed

在

𠂇person

土earth

在=

5.

Free Printable Handwriting Practice with Stroke Order: 在

Download and print worksheets to practice writing 在

FREE

在 handwriting practice sheet - portrait orientation

Download Portrait PDF

在 handwriting practice sheet - landscape orientation

Download Landscape PDF

6.

How to Use 在

Common patterns, words, and short phrases that show how 在 works in context.

Location or ongoing action

Use 在 before a place to mean 'at/in', or before a verb to show an action is happening now.

在

+

7.

HSK Vocabulary: 在

HSK words that contain this character.

HSK 2

zhèng正

zài

8.

Example Sentences

Real-world example sentences demonstrating how 在 is used in context

tā他

zài在

Běi北

jīng京

gōng工

zuò作

Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal

𠂇person

+土earth

A person (人) stands on the ground (土) — to exist or be present at a location.

p

l

a

c

e

at/in a place

在

+

v

e

r

b

p

h

r

a

s

e

doing something now

住

/

坐

/

放

+

在

+

p

l

a

c

e

verb + at/in a place

在

to be in the process of

HSK 1

xiàn现

zài在

now

HSK 4

shí实

zài在

truly

HSK 5

zài在

hu乎

care about; mind; take to heart

HSK 5

zài在

yú于

to be in/at

HSK 3.0 · L5

zài在

nèi内

(included) in it

。

He works in Beijing.

wǒ我

jīn今

tiān天

zài在

jiā家

xiū休

xi息

。

I am resting at home today

wǒ我

xiàn现

zài在

zhèng正

zài在

xué学

xí习

zhōng中

wén文

。

I am studying Chinese now

wǒ我

de的

shū书

zài在

zhuō桌

zi子

shàng上

。

My book is on the table.

zhè这

ge个

wèn问

tí题

yì一

zhí直

cún存

zài在

。

This problem has always existed

Commonly Confused

Learn the difference between similar characters

在vs再

View all comparisons →

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 1

Characters from the same exam level.

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Same Sound

Characters pronounced "zai".

View all "zai" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "土".

View all "土" radical characters →