正在 zhèng zài

HSK 2 word

Meanings

to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing

Characters

正 zhèng: straight
在 zài: to exist; to be alive

Grammar: Actions in progress with 在

Subject + (正)在 + Verb

在 before a verb says the action is going on right now, like English "-ing". 正在 means the same with more stress on "at this very moment". When 在 is followed by a place instead, it says where the action happens.

Example sentences

他正在开会。
He is in conference.
Tatoeba #710768 by Yashanti (CC BY 2.0 FR)

正在下雪。
It's snowing.
Tatoeba #819440 by Martha (CC BY 2.0 FR)

正在下雨。
It's raining now.
Tatoeba #3952421 by cooper (CC BY 2.0 FR)

Meanings and readings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0).