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  • How to use 在 (zai)

    rEvolt | offlineLv2 | Expired Date:2009.10.10 21:41

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How to use 在 (zai)

As far as I know, its used to express something is been doing right now. Its like present progressive, isnt it ?


Eg.:

我在学习做中国菜 (I am learning cooking Chinese food now) 

--> The person is cooking Chinese food RIGHT NOW!

我学习做中国菜 (without zai): I learn cooking Chinese food. 

--> The person is learning how to cook Chinese food for a longer period

If im wrong or there are must better explanations, pls inform me. I just wanna make sure. 


Cheers buddies!

Answer

wendy | offline Lv6 | Answer Date:2009.09.20 22:26 (2) | (0)

Yeah, 在 can means something is been doing.

But it also has others meanings, refer to the location of sth.

For example, 我在教室: I am in the classroom.

 

restless | offline Lv1 | Answer Date:2009.09.24 21:32 (0) | (0)

Also to show an action in progress you can use

正在 zheng zai instead of just 在

Example I'm cooking

 

我正在做

wo zheng zai zuo fan

 

You can also start your sentence with

现在 (Now)

 

现在我要做飯

xian zai wo yao zuo fan

Now I want to cook

 

I'm also a learner of Chinese

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