01 / READExamples
Highlighted words show the grammar pattern. Reveal the English translation when needed.
我在厨房做饭。
I cook in the kitchen.
在厨房 gives the location; context determines whether the activity is habitual or current.
她在咖啡馆等朋友。
She is waiting for a friend at a café.
The whole location phrase goes before 等朋友.
我们周六在公园练太极拳。
We practise tai chi in the park on Saturdays.
The time phrase comes before the place and the activity.
02 / UNDERSTANDHow it works
Sentence pattern
Use 在 followed by a place before the main activity to say where that activity happens. 我在厨房做饭 means “I cook in the kitchen” or “I am cooking in the kitchen,” depending on context. The location normally comes before 做饭. You do not need to move it to the end to match the most familiar English translation.
A place expression may be a named location, such as 北京, or a noun with a location word, such as 桌子旁边, “beside the table.” Choose a place expression that makes the relationship clear. 在学校 is a natural way to say “at school”; not every place needs an extra 里.
This use of 在 differs from 在 directly before a verb to mark an action in progress. Compare 我在家学习, which gives a location, and 我在学习, which presents studying as underway. A location sentence can describe a habit or a particular occasion, so time words and context still matter. Keep the location phrase together between the subject and the action.
COMMON MISTAKESWhat to watch for
Avoid我在厨房的做饭。
Use我在厨房做饭。
在厨房 gives the location of the action. It directly precedes 做饭 in this pattern; do not add 的 between the location phrase and the activity.
03 / PRACTISECheck your understanding
04 / VOCABULARYLesson vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 厨房 | chúfáng | kitchen |
| 咖啡馆 | kāfēiguǎn | café |
| 等 | děng | to wait for |
Choose a Chinese word for dictionary definitions, examples and stroke order. The meanings above are specific to this lesson.
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Written for this website. Levels indicate difficulty, not official HSK placement. The app covers this topic with different wording and exercises.
