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HSK 2

正在

in the middle of (doing); currently

adverbneutral2 episodes
正
zhèng4th tone
在
zài4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
zhèngzài
Part of speech
adverb
Level
HSK 2
Strokes
11
Register
neutral
In episodes
2

Stroke order for 正在

正在 is written with 11 strokes (正: 5, 在: 6). The animation replays automatically.

What does 正在 mean?

正在 (zhèngzài) is the progressive aspect adverb that marks an action happening RIGHT NOW — it sits before a verb to say 'is in the middle of doing.'

The structure is 正在 + V (+ 呢): 我正在吃饭 ('I'm eating right now'), 他正在睡觉 ('he's sleeping'). Three things to know. First, 正在 is interchangeable with the shorter 在 in most spoken contexts (我在吃饭 = 我正在吃饭), but 正在 emphasizes the 'right at this moment' nuance more strongly.

Second, sentences with 正在 often end in the soft particle 呢, which adds a mellow, conversational tone. Third, do not confuse 正在 (action in progress) with 着 (state continuing): 正在穿 = 'putting on (right now)'; 穿着 = 'wearing (state).' English '-ing' covers both; Chinese splits them.

Note: Standard, used in both speech and writing. In casual speech, the shorter 在 alone often replaces 正在.

Character by character

正zhèngright; just; precisely
+
在zàiat; in; (be) located at
=
正在

Memory hook: 正 ('precisely') + 在 ('at') = 'precisely at this moment' — the action is happening exactly now.

Hear 正在 in real episodes

正在 appears in 2 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

His House Was Burning at 4 A.M., So He Drove Off in the Rescue Truck Sent to Save It — Over the Hoses Watering His Own Fire.正在 spoken at natural speedmediumHis House Was Burning at 4 A.M., So He Drove Off in the Rescue Truck Sent to Save It — Over the Hoses Watering His Own Fire.正在 spoken at natural speedeasy
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Example sentences

我正在吃饭，等一下。

Wǒ zhèngzài chīfàn, děng yíxià.

I'm eating right now, hold on a second.

spoken

他正在睡觉呢。

Tā zhèngzài shuìjiào ne.

He's sleeping right now.

spoken

外面正在下雨。

Wàimiàn zhèngzài xiàyǔ.

It's raining outside.

neutral

妈妈正在做饭。

Māma zhèngzài zuòfàn.

Mom is cooking.

spoken

他正在学习中文。

Tā zhèngzài xuéxí Zhōngwén.

He is studying Chinese.

neutral

Common phrases with 正在

正在吃饭zhèngzài chīfànin the middle of eating
正在工作zhèngzài gōngzuòcurrently working
正在睡觉zhèngzài shuìjiàocurrently sleeping
正在下雨zhèngzài xiàyǔit's raining (right now)
正在做zhèngzài zuòin the process of doing

Synonyms

在zài

Shorter, more conversational way to mark progressive action. 我在看书 = 我正在看书. Use 在 in fast spoken speech; use 正在 when you want to emphasize 'right at this moment' or in writing.

正zhèng

正 + V also marks 'just (doing)' but feels slightly more literary. 我正想找你 = 'I was just thinking of looking for you.' 正在 is the more common everyday choice.

Don't confuse 正在 with

着zhe

正在 + V = action being PERFORMED right now. V + 着 = the resulting STATE that continues. 他正在开门 = 'he's opening the door (action)'; 门开着 = 'the door is open (state).'

在zài

在 has two main uses: as a preposition ('at/in,' 在家 'at home') and as a progressive marker ('-ing'). 正在 is only the progressive marker, never a location preposition.

现在xiànzài

现在 is a noun/time word meaning 'now / at the moment.' 正在 is an adverb that attaches to verbs to mark progressive aspect. 现在几点 = 'what time is it now?' vs 我正在学习 = 'I'm currently studying.'

FAQ

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