正在 meaning in English
to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing
Meaning of 正在
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing
How to use 正在
Put 正在 before a verb to show an action is in progress, and you can add 呢 (ne) at the end of the sentence. Example: 我正在吃饭呢。(Wǒ zhèngzài chīfàn ne.) I am eating right now.
正 (zhèng) means "just, right" and 在 (zài) means "to be at", so 正在 is "right at" the action, happening right now. Picture someone caught right in the middle of doing something.
Common mistake: Learners often use 正在 with verbs that are not ongoing actions, like 是 (shì), 知道 (zhīdào) or 喜欢 (xǐhuan). 我正在知道 is wrong. Just say 我知道. Also do not confuse 正在 with 现在 (xiànzài). 现在 is a time word meaning "now", while 正在 marks an action as in progress.
正在 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
正 zhèng · straight · 5 strokes
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- 3
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- 5
在 zài · to exist · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 正在.
| 现在 | xiànzài | now; at present; currently |
| 在家 | zàijiā | to be at home; (at a workplace) to be in (as opposed to being away on official business 出差 |
| 真正 | zhēnzhèng | genuine; real; true; really; indeed |
| 正常 | zhèngcháng | normal; regular |
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 正是 | zhèngshì | is precisely |
| 实在 | shízài | really; actually |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | just (in time); just right |
| 存在 | cúnzài | to exist; to be |
| 反正 | fǎnzhèng | anyway; in any case |
| 正式 | zhèngshì | formal; official |
| 不在乎 | bùzàihu | not to care |
Questions about 正在
What does 正在 mean?
正在 (zhèngzài) means "to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 正在?
正在 is made of 2 characters: 正 (5 strokes), 在 (6 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 正在 an HSK word?
Yes. 正在 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 正在, 正 and 在?
All three can mark an ongoing action, as in 他在看书, 他正看书 and 他正在看书. 在 is the most common in speech. 正 stresses the exact moment, and 正在 combines both, so it sounds a little more emphatic. Bare 正 usually needs something after the verb, such as 呢 or 着.
Can 正在 be used for past actions?
Yes. 正在 describes an action in progress at a certain moment, and that moment can be in the past. Example: 昨天你打电话的时候，我正在洗澡。(Zuótiān nǐ dǎ diànhuà de shíhou, wǒ zhèngzài xǐzǎo.) When you called yesterday, I was taking a shower.