在
在 (zài) means “at”. It is made of 才 + 土 and has 6 strokes, and is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 在 into its parts
What 在 is made of
- 才 cái — ability
- 扌 shǒu — hand
- 二 — two strokes
- 亅 — hook
- 扌 shǒu — hand
- 土 tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
Origin hint: 土 gives the meaning, 才 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
在 stroke order
Example sentences
我在学校学习。Wǒ zài xuéxiào xuéxí.I study at school.
你的书在哪儿？Nǐ de shū zài nǎr?Where is your book?
Words with 在
- 现在xiànzàinow
- 在家zàijiāat home
- 正在zhèngzàiin the process of
- 实在shízàihonest
- 实在shízàihonest
- 存在cúnzàito exist
- 不在乎bùzàihunot to care
- 在乎zàihuto care about
- 在于zàiyúto lie in
- 内在nèizàiinner
- 在意zàiyìto mind
Also built with 才
Quick facts
| Pinyin | zài |
|---|---|
| Meaning | at; in; located |
| Strokes | 6 |
| Radical | 土 (earth, #32) |
| Pattern | Top-left wrap |
| HSK | HSK 1 (exam 2025) · HSK 1 (2021) · Old HSK 1 |
Questions about 在
What does 在 mean?
在 (zài) means “at; in; located”.
How many strokes does 在 have?
在 has 6 strokes.
What is the radical of 在?
The radical of 在 is 土 (tǔ, “earth”), Kangxi radical number 32.
What parts make up 在?
在 is made of 才 (ability) and 土 (earth).
Which HSK level is 在?
在 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 1.
Learn 在 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 3: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.