HSK 5
Correct
正 vs 在 vs 正在
/ zhèng vs zài vs zhèngzài /
Strokes
Definition
正 (HSK 5), 在 (HSK 1) and 正在 (HSK 2) are all Adverb of Time （时间副词）.
正, 在, and 正在 are all Adverbs used to indicate the proceeding of an action or the continuation of a state.
Their meanings are basically the same, but their emphasis and usages need to be differentiated.
1, 正 is used to express that "something has not taken place yet, but it will happen soon".
2, 在 is used to emphasize the continuation of an action or a state and is often used with an expression like 一直 or 继续, etc.
Example
They are not interchangeable 1
正 Is used to express that "something has not taken place yet, but it will happen soon".
It is often followed by a word like 要 or 想, etc.
It is often followed by a word like 要 or 想, etc.
1
Wǒ
我
xiǎng
想
gěi
给
tā
他
dǎdiànhuà
打电话
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
tā
他
yě
也
zhēng
正
xiǎng
想
gěi
给
wǒ
我
dá
打
。
(
hái
还
méi
没
dǎdiànhuà
打电话
,
dàn
但
hěnkuài
很快
jiùyào
就要
dá
打
le
了
。
)
When I was about to call him, he was also going to call me. (I have not called him yet, but I will call him very soon.)
2
Shāngdiàn
商店
zhèngyào
正要
guānmén
关门
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
lái
来
le
了
yī
一
gè
个
gùkè
顾客
。
(
hái
还
méiyǒu
没有
guānmén
关门
,
dàn
但
mǎshàng
马上
jiùyào
就要
guān
关
le
了
。
)
A customer came when the shop was going to close. (The shop is not closed yet, but it will be closed very soon.)
They are not interchangeable 2
在 is used to emphasize that "an action or a state continues".
It is often used with a word like —直 or 继续, etc.
It is often used with a word like —直 or 继续, etc.
3
Tā
他
de
的
zuòyè
作业
méiyǒu
没有
zuò
做
wán
完
,
hái
还
zài
在
jìxù
继续
zuò
做
。
He didn't finish his homework, so he is still doing homework now.
4
Tā
他
de
的
hànyǔ
汉语
shuǐpíng
水平
bú
不
shi
是
hěn
很
hǎo
好
,
hái
还
zài
在
jìxù
继续
xuéxí
学习
ne
呢
。
His Chinese is not so good, so he is still learning Chinese.
They are interchangeable.
On many occasions, 在 and 正在 can be used interchangeably to indicate that an action is in progress and continues.
5
Tā
他
lái
来
de
的
shíhou
时候
,
wǒ
我
zài
在
/
zhèngzài
正在
xǐ
洗
yīfú
衣服
。
I was washing clothes when he came.
6
Zuótiān
昨天
wǎnshang
晚上
shíyī
十一
diǎn
点
,
wǒ
我
zài
在
/
zhèngzài
正在
xué
学
hànyǔ
汉语
。
I was learning Chinese at 11 last night.
How to use 正 - 1
正 can be followed by a phrase indicating locality, such as 在家里, 在学校, 在国外 or 在公园, etc. 在 or 正在 cannot be used in this way.
7
Wǒ
我
zhèngzài
正在
gōngyuán
公园
sànbù
散步
ne
呢
。
I am walking in the park.
How to use 正 - 2
正 can not be followed by only a verb or verb phrase.
It has to collocate with 呢 or 啊 in an interrogative sentence.
It has to collocate with 呢 or 啊 in an interrogative sentence.
8
Xiǎowáng
小王
zhēng
正
dǎdiànhuà
打电话
ne
呢
。
Xiao wang is calling.
9
Xiǎowáng
小王
zhēng
正
dǎdiànhuà
打电话
ma
吗
?
Is Xiao wang calling?
How to use 正 - 3
正 can be followed by 从, while 正在 or 在 cannot.
10
Māma
妈妈
zhēng
正
cóng
从
běijīng
北京
lái
来
shànghǎi
上海
kàn
看
wǒ
我
。
Mom is on the way to visit me from Beijing to Shanghai.
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with 正, 在 or 正在:
1. 我（ ）准备敲门的时候, 妈妈把门打开了。
2. 比赛已经结束了，可他还（ ）坚持练习。
3. 我的中国朋友（ ）从北京来韩国看我。
4. 我这几天不在家，（ ）在北京旅游呢。
5. 我到小明家时，他（ ）高兴地唱着歌呢。
6. 他（ ）从香港坐飞机过来，很快就到了。
7. 公园里一些老人（ ）学唱戏。
8. 这些天一直（ ）下雨。