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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to be" in Chinese?
在
zài
In Chinese, "to be" is 在.
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Pronunciation
Tsai, with a fourth tone (falling), a simple one-syllable verb of location or existence.
Writing and usage
One character (在), five strokes arranged in an upright form. It's one of the most frequently used verbs in Chinese.
Example sentence
我在家里。
I am at home.
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How to remember 在
Zài (to be) appears in countless sentences about location, position, and existence, making it foundational.
Related words
- ask 问 wèn
- buy 买 mǎi
- call out 召唤 zhào huàn
- close 关上 guān shàng
- look at 看 kàn
- shoot 射 shè
- sleep 睡觉 shuì jiào
- smell 闻 wén
- write 写 xiě
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 在
How do you say "to be" in Chinese?
In Chinese, "to be" is 在. It is a noun.
How is 在 written in Chinese?
One character (在), five strokes arranged in an upright form. It's one of the most frequently used verbs in Chinese.
How is 在 used in a sentence?
Use 在 as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: 我在家里。 (I am at home.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"To be" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation.
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