Learn a Chinese Character - 在 (zài) - At, In, Exist

1. Character Basics (基本信息)

Radical: 土 (The "earth" radical)

Stroke Count: 6 (Six strokes)

Character Decomposition: 土 + 才 (The combination of "earth" and "talent")

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zài (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

“在” can mean "at", "in", or "exist". It is often used to indicate location or the state of being. (“在” 可以表示 “在（某处）”、“存在” 等意思，常用于表示位置或存在状态。)

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 现在 (xiàn zài) - now, at present
• 在家 (zài jiā) - at home
• 正在 (zhèng zài) - in the process of, currently

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

“在” is commonly used as a preposition to indicate location or as an adverb to indicate an ongoing action. For example, "我在家" (I'm at home) and "我正在吃饭" (I'm having a meal). (“在” 常用作介词表示位置，或作副词表示正在进行的动作。例如，“我在家”（我在家里）和 “我正在吃饭”（我正在吃着饭）。)

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In Chinese culture, the concept of "being present" or "existing" is emphasized. The character "在" reflects this cultural connotation. (在中国文化中，强调 “在场” 或 “存在” 的概念，“在” 这个字体现了这种文化内涵。)

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

You can think of "在" as a person standing on the ground (represented by the "土" radical), which implies being present in a certain place. (你可以把 “在” 想象成一个人站在土地（由 “土” 部首表示）上，这意味着存在于某个地方。)