正在 + Verb
Reach for this when you want to say something is happening RIGHT NOW, in the middle of unfolding — the Chinese present continuous. 正在 means 'in the process of,' and it goes directly before the verb. Useful for describing live action, ongoing events, or what someone is doing at this very moment. Sometimes a 呢 is added to the end of the sentence (他正在吃饭呢) for a softer, more spoken feel.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 正在 [VERB] ([OBJECT])
zhèngzài [VERB]
How to Think About It
正在 isn't really 'is + -ing' — it's more like 'right in the middle of.' That's why it doesn't go with stative verbs (knowing, having, liking) the same way English '-ing' does. Anything that can be paused and resumed (eating, reading, watching) is fair game; anything that's just a state usually isn't.
Examples
他正在打电话，请等一下。
Tā zhèngzài dǎ diànhuà, qǐng děng yíxià.
He's on the phone right now; please wait a moment.
我正在吃晚饭。
Wǒ zhèngzài chī wǎnfàn.
I'm eating dinner.
孩子们正在公园里玩。
Háizimen zhèngzài gōngyuán lǐ wán.
The children are playing in the park.
Common Mistake
Learners use 正在 with stative verbs like 喜欢, 知道, or 是 because English allows 'I am loving it.' In Chinese these states don't take 正在 — you just use the bare verb.
我正在喜欢这个电影。
我很喜欢这个电影。
Don't Confuse With
在 + Verb
Same meaning, shorter form. 在看 and 正在看 both mean 'is watching.' 正在 adds slight emphasis on the 'right now-ness.'
Verb + 着
着 marks a continuous STATE that resulted from a verb (the door is in an open state: 门开着). 正在 marks an ongoing ACTION in progress.
Verb + 了
了 marks completion — the action is done. 正在 marks the action mid-stream. Don't combine them: 正在……了 is contradictory.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 老师 ____ 上课。
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正在
Fill in the blank: 妈妈正在 ____ 饭。
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做
Arrange into a sentence: 正在 / 我 / 朋友 / 我的 / 看 / 电影 / 和
Show answer
我和我的朋友正在看电影。
Translate to Chinese: I am studying Chinese right now.
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我正在学中文。
Use 正在 to describe what three people in your life are doing this moment.
Show answer
我正在写作业，妈妈正在做饭，爸爸正在看新闻。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: