Mr Preposition 在

In this post, we will talk about how 在 can be used in sentences when it is acting as a preposition:

1. Subject. + 在 ＋ Location

wǒ zài zhōng guó
我 在 中 国  I am in China

Tā / tā zài shàng hǎi
他／她在上海  He/she is in Shanghai

Tā / tā men zài lún dūn
他／她们在伦敦  They are in London

2. Subj. + 在 ＋ location ＋ Noun of locality

Examples of nouns of locality:

Shàng / shàng miàn                Zuǒ / zuǒ biān
上 ／ 上 面        on top of                左／左边   On the left

xià / xià miàn                          Yòu / yòu biān
下／下面     Underneath               右／右边   On the right

wài / wài miàn                           Lǐ / lǐ miàn
外／外面          Outside                里／里 面  Inside

páng / páng biān
旁／旁边   Beside

e.g. sentences：

mài kè fēng zài zuǒ biān
麦 克 风 在 左 边  The microphone is on the left

Xióng xiān shēng zài yòu biān
熊先生在右边    Mr Bear is on the right

3. subj +在＋place ＋verb

Xióng xiān shēng zài gōng sī shàng bān
熊 先 生 在 公 司 上 班    Mr bear is at work in his company. 

wǒ zài jiā shuì jiào
我在家睡觉    I slept at home. 

4. Special verb +在 （to form location compliment)

The special verbs can be (but not limit to):

Zhù zuò zhàn liú cáng
住 坐 站 留 藏

to live, to sit, to stand, to stay, to hide

e.g. sentences:

Wǒ zuò zài yǐ zi shàng
我坐在椅子上    I sat on a chair

wǒ zhù zài xiāng xià
我住在乡下  I live in countryside

tā zhàn zài qiáng biān
他站在墙边   He stands beside the wall

Xióng xiān shēng xiǎng liú zài shēn biān
熊先生想留在 Chelsea 身边   Mr bear want to stay by Chelsea’s side

tā bǎ yào shi cáng zài yī guì lǐ
他把钥匙藏在衣柜里   He hide his keys in the wardrobe