在
Meanings
- to exist; to be alive
- (of sb or sth) to be (located) at
- (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)
Characters in this entry
- 在
- zài · be at, in, on; consist in, rest
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
4 · zai4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
zoi6
Cantonese word readings for 在. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- to exist; to be present; to be alive
- to be at; to be in; to be located
- Indicates progressive aspect; be ...-ing; in the middle of doing something
- (located) in; at
- during; in
- to lie in; to rest with
- to be at the post
- (alt-of, misspelling) Misspelling of 再 (zài).
- a surname
- (Hokkien) steady
- (Singapore Hokkien) solid, confident, and collected under pressure; skilled
character · Etymology 2
- (Hokkien) alternative form of 佇 (“at, in”)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack