在 zài — be at, exist · English

在

zài

be at, exist

At a glance · 在

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

在字小篆从土才声，为形声字；本义为存在、处于。甲骨文未见。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

在字本义为存在、居于某处。

Structure

形声字，下部『土』为意符，上部『才』为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinzài

Radical土

Strokes6

UnicodeU+5728

Character type形声

Theme状态

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English be at, exist Zai is a phonetic-semantic character meaning to be at and to exist.

Français être à, exister Zai est un caractère phonético-sémantique signifiant être à et exister.

Español estar en, existir Zai es un carácter fonosemántico que significa estar en y existir.

العربية يوجد، يكون في تساي حرف صوتي دلالي يعني الوجود والتواجد في مكان.

Русский быть, находиться Цзай — фоносемантический знак, означающий быть и находиться.

Common words

存在cún zàiexist
现在xiàn zàinow

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