How to Say "In" in Chinese - How To Say Guide

在

zài

The English word "in" is translated into Chinese as 在 (zài). Wiktionary also lists …里 (…lǐ).

Meaning: contained by (prep)

Ways to say it

“in” in Chinese
Chinese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
在	zài
…里	…lǐ

The word 在 is used for both 'in' (contained by a space) and 'at' (a specific point or location).

The character 里 (lǐ) literally means 'inside' or 'within'.

When expressing that something is 'in' a physical container or space, Chinese often uses the structure [Noun] + 里 (lǐ) to indicate the interior.

zài

The character 在 is used to create the 'continuous aspect' in grammar, similar to 'ing' in English. Adding 在 before a verb indicates that the action is currently 'in' progress.
The character 在 can act as a verb meaning 'to exist' or 'to be present'. For example, asking 你在吗? literally translates to 'Are you existing?' but means 'Are you there?'
The character 里 (lǐ), which is used to mean 'in', also functions as a common unit of distance or a word for 'neighborhood'.

我生在中國。
I was born in China.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use 在 to express being born in a location.
Tatoeba #794684 by LeviHighway, translation #3276502 by keistas
日本在亚洲。
Japan is situated in Asia.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use 在 to state where a country is situated.
Tatoeba #1415769 by sadhen, translation #794745 by hrin
我在倫敦嗎？
Am I in London?
This sentence is useful for asking a question about one's location using 在.
Tatoeba #1482130 by egg0073, translation #1482127 by ddnktr
我在房间里
I am in the room.
他在公司工作
He works in the company.
电脑内有重要文件
There are important documents inside the computer.
包内有手机和钱
There is a cellphone and money inside the bag.
盒子内是礼物
There is a gift inside the box.
手机在包里
The phone is in the bag.
饭菜在锅里
The food is in the pot.
杯子里面有水
There is water inside the cup.
包里面有钱和手机
There is money and a phone inside the bag.
鸟巢里面有很多鸟
There are many birds inside the bird's nest.
我坐在电影院里
I am sitting in the cinema.
2777 more sentences on Tatoeba

Zihan is asking Zhiqiang about the location of her keys.

梓涵 Zihan

我的鑰匙在桌子上嗎？
Wǒ de yàoshi zài zhuōzi shàng ma?
Are my keys on the table?
志强 Zhiqiang

不在，在包子裡。
Bù zài, zài bāozi lǐ.
No, they are in the bag.
梓涵 Zihan

真的在裡面嗎？
Zhēn de zài lǐmiàn ma?
Are they really in there?
志强 Zhiqiang

對，就在包子裡。
Duì, jiù zài bāozi lǐ.
Yes, they are right in the bag.

Sources

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