正在
HSK 1 (exam 2025)HSK 1 (2021)Old HSK 2
正在 (zhèngzài) · in the process of
正在 (zhèngzài) means “in the process of”. It is written with 2 characters: 正 (straight) + 在 (at). It is an HSK 1 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 正在 is built
The characters
正 zhèng · straight
What 正 is made of
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 止zhǐ — to stop
- 上shàng — up
- ⺊ — structural part
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 上shàng — up
Origin hint: A foot 止 stopping in the right place 一 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
在 zài · at
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)
Example sentences
我正在吃饭。Wǒ zhèngzài chīfàn.I'm eating right now.
你正在做什么？Nǐ zhèngzài zuò shénme?What are you doing right now?
Questions about 正在
What does 正在 mean?
正在 (zhèngzài) means “in the process of”.
How do you pronounce 正在?
正在 is pronounced zhèngzài.
Which HSK level is 正在?
正在 is in HSK 1 (exam 2025) and HSK 1 (2021) and Old HSK 2.
Related words
- 真正zhēnzhèngreal
- 正常zhèngchángnormal
- 正好zhènghǎojust right
- 正确zhèngquècorrect
- 正是zhèngshìto be exactly
- 反正fǎnzhènganyway
- 正式zhèngshìformal
- 改正gǎizhèngto correct
- 端正duānzhèngupright
- 更正gēngzhèngto correct
Learn 正在 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 (2021) · Group 28: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.