# 在

| 在 | U+5728, &#22312; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5728 |
| ← 圧 [U+5727] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 圩 → [U+5729] |

## Translingual
### Han character

在 (Kangxi radical 32, 土+3, 6 strokes, cangjie input 大中土 (KLG), four-corner 4021$_4$, composition ⿸𠂇⿰丨土)

#### Derived characters

* 恠, 茬, 𠈚, 𠡘, 𠱽, 𭓁, 𭖘, 𣑊, 𥒒, 𫞼, 𨀬, 𩶦, 𡖪, 𭻟, 𮔒, 𭆩, 𣄒, 𢙮, 𥩴
* 𰌻, 𰛢

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: not present, would follow page 224, character 18
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 4881
* Dae Jaweon: page 455, character 14
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 418, character 7
* Unihan data for U+5728

#### Further reading

* 在 on Wikidata.Wikidata

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 在 :
| Shang | Western Zhou | Spring and Autumn | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) | Libian (compiled in Qing) |
| Oracle bone script | Bronze inscriptions | Bronze inscriptions | Qin slip script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts | Clerical script |
| | Old Chinese |
| 茬 | *zraː, *zraːʔ, *ʔsrɯ, *zrɯ |
| 材 | *zlɯː |
| 才 | *zlɯː, *zlɯːs |
| 財 | *zlɯː |
| 鼒 | *zlɯː, *ʔslɯ |
| 在 | *zlɯːʔ, *zlɯːs |
| 豺 | *zrɯː |
Phonetic compound (OC *zlɯːʔ, *zlɯːs): phonetic 才 (OC *zlɯː, *zlɯːs) + phonetic 士 (OC *zrɯʔ).
Now phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *zlɯːʔ, *zlɯːs) : phonetic 才 (OC *zlɯː, *zlɯːs) + semantic 土 (“earth”).
在 was often visually identical to 才 (OC *zlɯː, *zlɯːs, “sprout”) in the oracle bone script and some of the bronze inscriptions. It may be either a phonetic loan or a figurative derivative.

### Etymology 1

Probably related to 栽 (OC *ʔslɯː, “to plant”) (Schuessler, 2007).
This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): zài, zǎi, dài, dǎi (zai$^4$, zai$^3$, dai$^4$, dai$^3$)
       (Zhuyin): ㄗㄞˋ, ㄗㄞˇ, ㄉㄞˋ, ㄉㄞˇ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): zai$^4$ / dai$^4$ / de$^4$
    (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): zāi
    (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): zāi
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): зэ (ze, III)
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): zoi$^6$
    (Dongguan, Jyutping++): zui$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): doi$^5$
* Gan (Wiktionary): cai$^5$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): chhai / chhôi / ti / tu / tui / to / chhi / chhô / chhok / thê / thî / tî / chhî
    (Meixian, Guangdong): cai$^4$ / coi$^1$ / hoi$^1$ / hoi$^4$
* Jin (Wiktionary): zai$^3$
* Northern Min (KCR): cài
* Eastern Min (BUC): câi
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): zai$^5$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chāi / chǎi
    (Teochew, Peng'im): do$^6$ / zai$^6$
    (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): zai$^6$
* Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): zaai$^6$
* Wu (Wugniu)
** (Northern): $^6$ze / $^4$dzai / $^6$dzai / $^4$ze / $^6$zai / $^4$zae / $^6$dze / $^4$dze
** (Jinhua): $^6$dzae; $^3$sae; $^6$zae
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): dou$^5$ / zai$^5$ / zai$^4$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: zài
*** Zhuyin: ㄗㄞˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: zài
*** Wade–Giles: tsai$^4$
*** Yale: dzài
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzay
*** Palladius: цзай (czaj)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡saɪ̯⁵¹/
** (Beijing dialect)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: zǎi
*** Zhuyin: ㄗㄞˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: zǎi
*** Wade–Giles: tsai$^3$
*** Yale: dzǎi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tzae
*** Palladius: цзай (czaj)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡saɪ̯²¹⁴/
** (Beijing dialect)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: dài
*** Zhuyin: ㄉㄞˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: dài
*** Wade–Giles: tai$^4$
*** Yale: dài
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: day
*** Palladius: дай (daj)
*** Sinological IPA : /taɪ̯⁵¹/
** (Beijing dialect)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: dǎi
*** Zhuyin: ㄉㄞˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: dǎi
*** Wade–Giles: tai$^3$
*** Yale: dǎi
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: dae
*** Palladius: дай (daj)
*** Sinological IPA : /taɪ̯²¹⁴/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: zai$^4$ / dai$^4$ / de$^4$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: zai / dai / de
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sai²¹³/, /tai²¹³/, /tɛ²¹³/
** (Xi'an)
*** Guanzhong Pinyin: zāi
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sæ⁵⁵/
** (Nanjing)
*** Nanjing Pinyin: zāi
*** Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): zai$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sɛ⁴⁴/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: зэ (ze, III)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sɛ⁴⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: zoi$^6$
*** Yale: joih
*** Cantonese Pinyin: dzoi$^6$
*** Guangdong Romanization: zoi$^6$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sɔːi̯²²/
** (Dongguan, Guancheng)
*** Jyutping++: zui$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sui³²/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: doi$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /tᵘɔi³²/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: cai$^5$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰai¹¹/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhai / chhôi / ti / tu / tui / to / chhi / chhô / chhok
*** Hakka Romanization System: cai / coi$^ˊ$ / di / du / dui / do / qi / co$^ˊ$ / cog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: cai$^4$ / coi$^1$ / di$^4$ / du$^4$ / dui$^4$ / do$^4$ / qi$^4$ / co$^1$ / cog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/, /t͡sʰoi̯²⁴/, /ti⁵⁵/, /tu⁵⁵/, /tu̯i⁵⁵/, /to⁵⁵/, /t͡sʰi⁵⁵/, /t͡sʰo²⁴/, /t͡sʰok̚²/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhai / chhôi / thê / thî / tî / chhî / chhô / chhok
*** Hakka Romanization System: cai / coi$^ˊ$ / te$^ˊ$ / ti$^ˊ$ / di$^ˊ$ / qi$^ˊ$ / co$^ˊ$ / cog$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: cai$^4$ / coi$^1$ / te$^1$ / ti$^1$ / di$^1$ / qi$^1$ / co$^1$ / cog$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰai̯⁵⁵/, /t͡sʰoi̯²⁴/, /tʰe²⁴/, /tʰi²⁴/, /ti²⁴/, /t͡sʰi²⁴/, /t͡sʰo²⁴/, /t͡sʰok̚²/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: cai$^4$ / coi$^1$ / hoi$^1$ / hoi$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰaɪ⁵³/, /t͡sʰoɪ⁴⁴/, /hoɪ⁴⁴/, /hoɪ⁵³/
* Sixian:
** chhai - literary;
** chhôi - colloquial;
** ti/tu/tui/to/chhi/thê/thî/tî/chhî/chhô/chhok - colloquial (probably substitute).
* Meixian:
** cai4 - literary;
** coi1 - colloquial;
** hoi1/hoi4 - colloquial (preposition, also written as 嗨 or 喺).
* Dialectal data
| Variety | Location | edit在 |
| Mandarin | Beijing | /t͡sai⁵¹/ |
| Mandarin | Harbin | /t͡sai⁵³/ ～早 /t͡sai²¹³/ ～家 |
| Mandarin | Tianjin | /tai⁵³/ /t͡sai⁵³/ |
| Mandarin | Jinan | /t͡sɛ²¹/ |
| Mandarin | Qingdao | /t͡sɛ⁴²/ |
| Mandarin | Zhengzhou | /t͡sai³¹²/ |
| Mandarin | Xi'an | /t͡sai⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Xining | /t͡sɛ²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Yinchuan | /t͡sɛ¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Lanzhou | /t͡sɛ¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Ürümqi | /t͡sai²¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Wuhan | /t͡sai³⁵/ |
| Mandarin | Chengdu | /t͡sai¹³/ |
| Mandarin | Guiyang | /t͡sai²¹³/ 現～ /tai²¹³/ ～家 |
| Mandarin | Kunming | /t͡sæ²¹²/ |
| Mandarin | Nanjing | /t͡sae⁴⁴/ |
| Mandarin | Hefei | /t͡se̞⁵³/ |
| Jin | Taiyuan | /t͡sai⁴⁵/ |
| Jin | Pingyao | /t͡sæ³⁵/ |
| Jin | Hohhot | /t͡sɛ⁵⁵/ |
| Wu | Shanghai | /ze²³/ |
| Wu | Suzhou | /ze̞³¹/ |
| Wu | Hangzhou | /d͡ze̞¹³/ |
| Wu | Wenzhou | /ze³⁵/ |
| Hui | Shexian | /t͡sʰɛ³⁵/ /t͡sʰɛ²²/ |
| Hui | Tunxi | /t͡sʰə²⁴/ |
| Xiang | Changsha | /t͡sai⁵⁵/ /t͡sai¹¹/ /təu¹¹/ ～屋裡 |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | /d͡zai²¹/ |
| Gan | Nanchang | /t͡sʰai²¹/ |
| Hakka | Meixian | /t͡sʰoi⁴⁴/ /hoi⁴⁴/ /t͡sʰai⁵³/ |
| Hakka | Taoyuan | /t͡sʰɑi⁵⁵/ |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | /t͡sɔi²²/ |
| Cantonese | Nanning | /t͡sɔi²²/ |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | /t͡sɔi²²/ |
| Min | Xiamen (Hokkien) | /t͡sai²²/ |
| Min | Fuzhou (Eastern Min) | /t͡sɑi²⁴²/ |
| Min | Jian'ou (Northern Min) | /t͡sai⁴²/ |
| Min | Shantou (Teochew) | /t͡sai³⁵/ /to³⁵/ |
| Min | Haikou (Hainanese) | /t͡sai³³/ /ʔdu³³/ 訓 |
* Middle Chinese: dzojX, dzojH
Rime :
| Character | 在 | 在 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 從 (15) | 從 (15) |
| Final (韻) | 咍 (41) | 咍 (41) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open | Open |
| Division (等) | I | I |
| Fanqie | 昨宰切 | 昨代切 |
| Baxter | dzojX | dzojH |
| Reconstructions |||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /d͡zʌi$^X$/ | /d͡zʌi$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /d͡zəi$^X$/ | /d͡zəi$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /d͡zɒi$^X$/ | /d͡zɒi$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /d͡zəj$^X$/ | /d͡zəj$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /d͡zᴀi$^X$/ | /d͡zᴀi$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /d͡zɒi$^X$/ | /d͡zɒi$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /d͡zʱɑ̆i$^X$/ | /d͡zʱɑ̆i$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | zài | zài |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | zoi$^6$ | zoi$^6$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[dz]ˤəʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*zlɯːʔ/, /*zlɯːs/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 在 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | zài |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ dzoj$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[dz]ˁəʔ/ |
| English | be at, be present |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 在 | 在 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 2/2 |
| No. | 1064 | 1065 |
| Phonetic component | 才 | 才 |
| Rime group | 之 | 之 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 在 | 載 |
| Old Chinese | /*zlɯːʔ/ | /*zlɯːs/ |

#### Definitions

在
* to exist; to be alive
    在嗎？／在吗？ ― Zài ma? ― Are you here?
** c. 475 - 221 BCE, Disciples of Confucius, “學而 [Xue Er]”, in James Legge, transl., 論語 [The Analects of Confucius]:
       Fù zài, guān qí zhì; fù mò, guān qí xíng. [Pinyin]
       While a man's father is alive, look at the bent of his will; when his father is dead, look at his conduct.
* to be at; to be in; to be located
    他在哪裡？／他在哪里？ ― Tā zài nǎlǐ? ― Where is he?
       Lǚguǎn zài xīn gòuwù zhōngxīn fùjìn. [Pinyin]
       The hotel is located near the new shopping center.
    我在只塊。／我在只块。 [Teochew] ― ua$^2$ do$^6$ zi$^2$ go$^3$. [Peng'im] ― I am here.
* be ...-ing; in the middle of doing something (indicating an action in progress)
    我在看電視。／我在看电视。 ― Wǒ zài kàn diànshì. ― I'm watching TV.
    他在吃米飯。／他在吃米饭。 ― Tā zài chī mǐfàn. ― He's eating rice.
    我在食飯。／我在食饭。 [Teochew] ― ua$^2$ do$^6$ ziah$^8$ beng$^7$. [Peng'im] ― I am eating.
* (located) in; at
    我住在中國。／我住在中国。 ― Wǒ zhù zài Zhōngguó. ― I live in China.
       Wǒmen zài dāngdì bàozhǐ shàng dēng le yī zé guǎnggào. [Pinyin]
       We put an ad in the local paper.
       Měitiān xiàwǔ tā zài jiālǐ gōngzuò. [Pinyin]
       Every afternoon he works at home.
    在華／在华 ― zài Huá ― in China
    在日 ― zài Rì ― in Japan
* during; in
       Nǐ dǎsuàn zài jiàqī lǐ zuò shénme? [Pinyin]
       What do you plan to do during the holidays?
       Tā de rìjì zài tā shēngqián wèicéng fābiǎo guò. [Pinyin]
       His diary was not published during his lifetime.
* to lie in; to rest with
    事在人為／事在人为 ― shìzàirénwéi ― human effort can achieve everything;
    成功貴在堅持。／成功贵在坚持。 ― Chénggōng guì zài jiānchí. ― Perseverance is vital to success.
       Qù bù qù zài nǐ zìjǐ. [Pinyin]
       It's up to you whether to go or not.
* to be at the post
    在職／在职 ― zàizhí ― to be on the job; to be at one's post
    在野 ― zàiyě ― to be out of office
* Misspelling of 再 (zài).
* a surname
* (Hokkien) steady
       From: https://sutian.moe.edu.tw/zh-hant/su/2128/
       chē khah chāi leh [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]
       Sit a little more steadily.
* (Singapore Hokkien) solid, confident, and collected under pressure; skilled
    伊真在咧 [Hokkien] ― i chin chāi leh [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― He's so talented!

##### Synonyms

* (to exist):
* 存 (cún) (literary, or in compounds)
* 存在 (cúnzài)
* 有
* 留存 (liúcún)
* (in):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 於 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 在, 挨, 跟, 的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 在 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 在, 從 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 在 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 在 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 在 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 在 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 在 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 在 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Rugao | 吖 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 在 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 喺, 在 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 喺 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 響, 喺 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 喺 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 喺 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 響, 揀 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 揀 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 喺 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 喺 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 到, 響 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 到, 響 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 到, 響 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 響 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 響, 在, 喺 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 在 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 在 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 喺, 響 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 喺 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 在 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 在 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 在 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 嗨 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 在 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 在 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 在 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 在 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 在 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 在 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 在 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 在 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 在 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 在 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 在 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 在 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 在 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 在 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 在 |
| Hakka | Singapore (Dabu) | 在 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 在 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 在 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 到 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 著, 在, 洽 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 著, 洽 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 著 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 佇, 踮, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 佇, 踮, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 佇, 咧, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 佇, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 佇 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 佇, 踮, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 佇, 蹛 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 佇, 壏 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 佇, 踮 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 在 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 在 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 在 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 在 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 在, 壏, 放 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 著 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 在 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 在, 壏 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 佇, 放 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 佇 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 在 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 垃, 垃垃, 垃拉, 垃海, 垃該, 垃浪 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Xinzhuang, Minhang) | 垃該, 拉 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Songjiang) | 立垃, 勒嵌 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chuansha, Pudong) | 垃, 垃垃 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Nanhui, Pudong) | 垃該 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Fengxian) | 垃該 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Jinshan) | 有垃, 垃該 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Qingpu) | 勒拉 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Jiading) | 勒, 浪, 勒浪, 勒搭 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 勒勒, 勒 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 勒, 勒勒, 勒裡, 勒海, 勒浪, 勒篤 |
| Wu | Suzhou (Shengze, Wujiang) | 勒, 勒海, 勒拉, 勒浪 |
| Wu | Wuxi | 勒, 來勒, 勒娘, 勒裡 |
| Wu | Changshu | 勒笃, 勒裡, 勒海, 勒浪 |
| Wu | Kunshan | 勒, 勒浪, 勒海 |
| Wu | Qidong | 勒 |
| Wu | Qidong (Lüsi) | 在, 來, 來該 |
| Wu | Nantong (Haimen) | 勒, 勒特, 勒海, 勒勒 |
| Wu | Haimen (Sijia) | 來, 來到 |
| Wu | Rudong | 勒, 勒勒 |
| Wu | Pinghu | 勒, 勒海, 勒浪, 勒化, 來, 來海, 來浪, 來化 |
| Wu | Haining (Xiashi) | 有起霍, 有起, 有垃, 起勒, 起, 勒, 起霍 |
| Wu | Haiyan | 勒, 勒勒 |
| Wu | Changzhou | 勒, 勒蕩, 勒娘, 勒頭, 漏 |
| Wu | Liyang | 立 |
| Wu | Changzhou (Jintan) | 在, 則 |
| Wu | Danyang | 在, 則 |
| Wu | Jingjiang | 來, 勒 |
| Wu | Jiangyin | 勒, 勒勒 |
| Wu | Nanjing (Gaochun) | 來, 拉, 垃, 得, 擱 |
| Wu | Huzhou | 拉 |
| Wu | Deqing | 垃, 垃好, 來該, 來東, 拉好, 有好 |
| Wu | Deqing (Geting) | 拉 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 勒, 勒哈, 來搭, 來東, 在 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Lin'an) | 來, 來埭, 來同 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Fuyang) | 勒, 勒裡, 勒帶, 勒底 |
| Wu | Hangzhou (Xiaoshan) | 來帶, 來東, 來夯, 帶, 東, 夯 |
| Wu | Tonglu | 來, 來裡, 來夯 |
| Wu | Shaoxing | 來帶, 來埭, 來東, 來同, 來夯, 帶, 埭, 東, 同, 夯 |
| Wu | Shaoxing (Keqiao) | 來帶, 來東, 來夯, 帶, 東, 夯 |
| Wu | Zhuji | 來克, 來客, 勒克, 勒客, 克, 客 |
| Wu | Shengzhou | 來, 來帶, 來東, 來夯 |
| Wu | Xinchang | 來固, 來蒙, 來頭 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 來, 來勒, 來的, 來對, 來東, 來當, 來該 |
| Wu | Ningbo (Zhenhai) | 來 |
| Wu | Ningbo (Beilun) | 來, 來該, 來的, 來對, 來當 |
| Wu | Ningbo (Yinzhou) | 立該, 來, 來的, 來該 |
| Wu | Yuyao | 來, 得, 來浪 |
| Wu | Ninghai | 來的 |
| Wu | Zhoushan (Dinghai) | 勒 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 是 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 在 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 在 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 在 |
* (during):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 正在, 刻正 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 正在, 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 正在, 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 正在, 在 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 正在, 在 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 在 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 喺度, 喺處, 響度, 響處 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 喺度, 喺處, 響度, 響處 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 喺度 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 當, 在該, 當在 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 當, 在該 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 當, 在該 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 當, 在該 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 當, 在該 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 正在, 在遐 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 著𡅏, 𡅏 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 著𡅏 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 著𡅏 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 佇咧, 咧, 當咧, 拄咧, 拄佇咧 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 佇咧, 咧, 當咧, 拄咧, 拄佇咧 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 咧, 當咧, 拄咧, 當時 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 佇咧, 咧, 當咧 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 佇 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 佇, 佇咧 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 佇咧, 咧 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 在 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 在 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 在 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 垃, 垃垃, 垃拉, 垃海, 垃該 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 來, 來的, 來該, 來當, 來東, 來勒 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 是, 是搭 |
* (steady):
在穩／在稳 (chāi-ún), 穩定／稳定 (wěndìng)

##### Compounds

* 一技在身
* 不在 (bùzài)
* 不在乎 (bù zàihu)
* 不在了
* 不在人間 / 不在人间
* 不在地主
* 不在少數 / 不在少数 (bùzàishǎoshù)
* 不在心上
* 不在意 (bùzàiyì)
* 不在意下
* 不在行
* 不在話下 / 不在话下 (bùzàihuàxià)
* 不自在
* 丟在腦後 / 丢在脑后
* 事在人為 / 事在人为 (shìzàirénwéi)
* 事在必行
* 人亡物在
* 人生在世
* 何在 (hézài)
* 健在 (jiànzài)
* 優游自在 / 优游自在
* 內在 / 内在 (nèizài)
* 內在美 / 内在美 (nèizàiměi)
* 內在論 / 内在论
* 出門在外 / 出门在外
* 功在漏刻
* 功在社稷
* 勝券在握 / 胜券在握
* 勢在必行 / 势在必行 (shìzàibìxíng)
* 危在旦夕 (wēizàidànxī)
* 只在 (zhǐzài)
* 叨在知己
* 同在 (tóngzài)
* 吃自在飯 / 吃自在饭
* 命在旦夕
* 在下 (zàixià)
* 在世 (zàishì)
* 在乎 (zàihū)
* 在任 (zàirèn)
* 在位 (zàiwèi)
* 在來米 / 在来米 (zàiláimǐ)
* 在先 (zàixiān)
* 在內 / 在内 (zàinèi)
* 在冊 / 在册
* 在劫難逃 / 在劫难逃 (zàijiénántáo)
* 在即 (zàijí)
* 在商言商
* 在在 (zàizài)
* 在城
* 在堂
* 在場 / 在场 (zàichǎng)
* 在外 (zàiwài)
* 在天之靈 / 在天之灵 (zàitiānzhīlíng)
* 在學 / 在学 (zàixué)
* 在官
* 在官言官
* 在室
* 在室女
* 在家 (zàijiā)
* 在家人
* 在家修
* 在家出家
* 在席
* 在幫 / 在帮
* 在座 (zàizuò)
* 在心 (zàixīn)
* 在意 (zàiyì)
* 在所不免
* 在所不惜 (zàisuǒbùxī)
* 在所不計 / 在所不计
* 在所不辭 / 在所不辞
* 在所難免 / 在所难免 (zàisuǒnánmiǎn)
* 在押 (zàiyā)
* 在握 (zàiwò)
* 在教
* 在數 / 在数
* 在於 / 在于 (zàiyú)
* 在日
* 在昔
* 在望 (zàiwàng)
* 在朝 (zàicháo)
* 在案 (zài'àn)
* 在業 / 在业
* 在此一舉 / 在此一举
* 在此存照
* 在理 (zàilǐ)
* 在當 / 在当
* 在疚
* 在編 / 在编 (zàibiān)
* 在線 / 在线 (zàixiàn)
* 在職 / 在职 (zàizhí)
* 在職教育 / 在职教育
* 在職進修 / 在职进修
* 在臺協會 / 在台协会
* 在苫
* 在莒
* 在行 (zàiháng)
* 在譜 / 在谱
* 在逃 (zàitáo)
* 在野 (zàiyě)
* 在野黨 / 在野党 (zàiyědǎng)
* 在陳 / 在陈
* 在陳之厄 / 在陈之厄
* 外在 (wàizài)
* 外在美 (wàizàiměi)
* 夙夜在公 (sùyèzàigōng)
* 大不自在
* 大有人在 (dàyǒurénzài)
* 大權在握 / 大权在握 (dàquánzàiwò)
* 太阿在握
* 女宗宛在
* 好不自在
* 好在 (hǎozài)
* 如在股掌
* 如箭在弦
* 好自在
* 如芒在背
* 如鯁在喉 / 如鲠在喉
* 如鷹在籠 / 如鹰在笼
* 存在 (cúnzài)
* 存在主義 / 存在主义 (cúnzài zhǔyì)
* 安在 (ānzài)
* 安靜自在 / 安静自在
* 定在
* 富貴在天 / 富贵在天
* 實在 / 实在
* 實在論 / 实在论
* 實實在在 / 实实在在 (shíshízàizài)
* 左券在握
* 常在 (chángzài)
* 得失在人
* 從容自在 / 从容自在
* 心不在焉 (xīnbùzàiyān)
* 心在魏闕 / 心在魏阙
* 志在千里
* 志在四方
* 志在必得 (zhìzàibìdé)
* 忝在愛末 / 忝在爱末
* 念茲在茲 / 念兹在兹 (niànzīzàizī)
* 恫瘝在抱
* 恫瘝在身
* 悠閒自在 / 悠闲自在
* 情在言外
* 意在筆先 / 意在笔先
* 意在筆前 / 意在笔前
* 意在言外
* 成事在人
* 成事在天
* 成竹在胸 (chéngzhúzàixiōng)
* 所在 (suǒzài)
* 所在地 (suǒzàidì)
* 所在多有
* 拋在腦後 / 抛在脑后
* 振鷺在庭 / 振鹭在庭
* 提心在口
* 操之在我
* 擱在心上 / 搁在心上
* 擺在心上 / 摆在心上
* 擺在眼前 / 摆在眼前
* 放在心上
* 放在眼裡 / 放在眼里 (fàng zài yǎnlǐ)
* 新實在論 / 新实在论
* 晦在
* 有約在先 / 有约在先
* 有言在先 (yǒuyán zàixiān)
* 樂在其中 / 乐在其中 (lèzàiqízhōng)
* 樹頭徛予在，毋驚樹尾做風颱 / 树头徛予在，毋惊树尾做风台 (chhiū-thâu khiā hō͘ chāi, m̄ kiaⁿ chhiū-bóe chò-hong-thai) (Min Nan)
* 正在 (zhèngzài)
* 歲在龍蛇 / 岁在龙蛇
* 歷歷在目 / 历历在目 (lìlìzàimù)
* 毋忘在莒 (wúwàngzàijǔ)
* 毫不在乎
* 毫不在意
* 混在
* 滿不在乎 / 满不在乎
* 潛在 / 潜在 (qiánzài)
* 潛在危機 / 潜在危机
* 無所不在 / 无所不在 (wúsuǒbùzài)
* 無處不在 / 无处不在 (wúchùbùzài)
* 猶在 / 犹在 (yóuzài)
* 珊瑚在網 / 珊瑚在网 (shānhú zài wǎng)
* 珠玉在側 / 珠玉在侧
* 珠玉在傍
* 現在 / 现在
* 留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒 / 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 (liú dé qīngshān zài, bùpà méi chái shāo)
* 病在膏肓
* 痌瘝在抱 (tōngguānzàibào)
* 盈盈在目
* 盡其在我 / 尽其在我
* 目不在體 / 目不在体
* 矢在弦上
* 祭亡如在
* 禍在旦夕 / 祸在旦夕
* 禍在目前 / 祸在目前 (huò zài mùqián)
* 箭在弦上
* 簡在帝心 / 简在帝心
* 老在行
* 老神在在 (lǎoshénzàizài)
* 耿耿在心
* 聲容宛在 / 声容宛在
* 脊令在原
* 臥病在床 / 卧病在床 (wòbìngzàichuáng)
* 自在
* 自在畫 / 自在画
* 自在窗
* 自在逍遙 / 自在逍遥
* 自在飯 / 自在饭
* 自由自在 (zìyóuzìzài)
* 自繇自在 (zìyóuzìzài)
* 芒刺在背 (mángcìzàibèi)
* 英風宛在 / 英风宛在
* 蒙在鼓裡 / 蒙在鼓里 (méngzàigǔlǐ)
* 蜉蝣在世 (fúyóu zàishì)
* 行在 (Xíngzài)
* 見在 / 见在 (xiànzài)
* 見在佛 / 见在佛
* 觀自在 / 观自在
* 言猶在耳 / 言犹在耳 (yányóuzài'ěr)
* 謀事在人 / 谋事在人
* 車在馬前 / 车在马前
* 輕鬆自在 / 轻松自在
* 近在咫尺 (jìnzàizhǐchǐ)
* 近在眉睫
* 近在眼前
* 迫在眉睫 (pòzàiméijié)
* 逍遙自在 / 逍遥自在 (xiāoyáozìzài)
* 道在屎溺 (dàozàishǐniào)
* 銘記在心 / 铭记在心
* 音容如在
* 音容宛在
* 飛龍在天 / 飞龙在天
* 駐在國 / 驻在国
* 驪駒在門 / 骊驹在门
* 骨鯁在喉 / 骨鲠在喉 (gǔgěngzàihóu)
* 高下在心 (gāoxià zài xīn)
* 高高在上 (gāogāozàishàng)
* 鳳凰在笯 / 凤凰在笯 (fènghuáng zài nú)
* 鶺鴒在原 / 鹡鸰在原

#### Descendants

* → Vietnamese: tại (在)
→ English: zai (“skilled”)

### Etymology 2
#### Pronunciation

* Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): tī / tū / tǐr / tīr / tǐ
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Yilan, Kinmen, Hsinchu)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tī
*** Tâi-lô: tī
*** Phofsit Daibuun: di
*** IPA (Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan): /ti³³/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kinmen): /ti²²/
** (Hokkien: Taipei, Magong)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tū
*** Tâi-lô: tū
*** Phofsit Daibuun: du
*** IPA (Taipei): /tu³³/
** (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Lukang)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tǐr
*** Tâi-lô: tǐr
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /tɯ²²/
*** IPA (Lukang): /tɨ³³/
** (Hokkien: Sanxia)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tīr
*** Tâi-lô: tīr
** (Hokkien: Jinjiang, Philippines)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tǐ
*** Tâi-lô: tǐ
*** IPA (Jinjiang, Philippines): /ti³³/

#### Definitions

在
* (Hokkien) Alternative form of 佇 (“at, in”)

### References

* “在”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00743

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji)

#### Readings

* Go-on: ざい (zai, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: さい (sai)
* Kun: ある (aru, 在る, Jōyō)、あり (ari, 在り)、あり (ari, 在)、ます (masu, 在す)、います (imasu, 在す)
* Nanori: あきら (akira)、ひさし (hisashi)、あき (aki)、あり (ari)、ありふく (arifuku)、ある (aru)、たもつ (tamotsu)、ちえぼく (chieboku)、みつる (mitsuru)

#### Compounds

* 在(ざい)位(い) (zaī)
* 在(ざい)家(け) (zaike)
* 在(ざい)庫(こ) (zaiko)
* 在(ざい)校(こう) (zaikō)
* 在(ざい)住(じゅう) (zaijū)
* 在(ざい)職(しょく) (zaishoku)
* 在(ざい)世(せ) (zaise)
* 在(ざい)籍(せき) (zaiseki)
* 在(ざい)宅(たく) (zaitaku)
* 在(ざい)任(にん) (zainin)
* 在(ざい)来(らい) (zairai)
* 在(ざい)留(りゅう) (zairyū)
* 存(そん)在(ざい) (sonzai)
* 在(ざい)日(にち) (zainichi)
* 現(げん)在(ざい) (genzai)
* 現(げん)在(ざい)地(ち) (genzaichi)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 在
* ざい Grade: 5
* goon
From Middle Chinese 在 (MC dzojX|dzojH). Attested in compounds since at least the 900s.

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) ざい [záꜜì] (Atamadaka – [1]) — pitch is specific to use as a standalone noun
* IPA: [d͡za̠i]

#### Affix

在(ざい) • (zai)
* [from at least 900s] (as used in compounds) at, in, located

#### Noun

在(ざい) • (zai)
* [from 1569] Clipping of 在郷 (zaigō): countryside or outskirts

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 在
* あ(り) Grade: 5
* kun'yomi
* Alternative spelling
* 有 (common)
Alternative spelling for 有り (ari), the Classical and Old Japanese copula.

#### Definitions

For pronunciation and definitions of 在 – see the following entry. :
| 【有あり】 | [noun] nominalization of 有る (aru): there is, available [noun] (colloquial) OK, acceptable [verb] stem or continuative conjugation of 有る (aru) [verb] Classical Japanese form of 有る (aru): to be, to exist Alternative spellings 有, 在り |
(This term, 在, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) :

### References

* ↑ “在”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), concise edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2006
* ↑ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

## Korean
### Hanja

在 (eumhun 있을 재 (isseul jae))
* hanja form of 재 (“exist”)

#### Compounds

* 존재 (存在, jonjae, “existence”)

## Old Korean
### Alternative forms

* 𠂇 (kwukyel abbreviation)

### Verb

在 (*KYE-)
* to exist, to be at
    Synonym: 有叱 (*Is-)
* A common auxiliary verb or (more probably) verbal suffix, usually thought to denote the completive aspect, i.e. describing an action which has been completed and remains in such a state. An alternative but minority hypothesis holds that it honored the subject of the verb to a moderate degree, whereas 賜 (*-si) was more highly honorific.

#### Usage notes

* In both senses, it appears to have been wholly supplanted by the Middle Korean stage by 有叱 (*Is-) > Middle Korean 잇다〮 (ìstá), which is already more common for the independent verbal sense in the early first millennium and is first attested as an auxiliary in 1262. The word is not found in Middle Korean outside the two derived terms given below.

#### Reconstruction notes

* Conventionally read as *KYE- because Middle Korean Idu script manuals, which commonly preserve Old Korean readings, read this character as 견 (kyen), which is clearly an inflected form with the realis gerund ㄴ (-n).
* Although Old Korean writing does not mark pitch, the Middle Korean reflexes show rising pitch, which are the result of a merger of a low-pitch and high-pitch syllable. This means that the Old Korean verb stem was not in fact monosyllabic *kye- but really consisted of two syllables. However, this original pronunciation cannot be reconstructed.

#### Descendants

* ⇒ Middle Korean: 겨〯시다〮 (kyěsìtá, “to exist, to be at”, honorific)
** Korean: 계시다 (gyesida)
* ⇒ Middle Korean: 겨〯집 (kyěcìp, “woman”, literally “stay-at-home”)
** Korean: 계집 (gyejip)

### References

* 이승재 [iseungjae] (2001) “古(고)代(대) 吏(이)讀(두)의 尊(존)敬(경)法(법) '在(재)[겨]'에 대하여 [On the deferential marker -kye- in Old Korean idu]”, in Eomun yeon-gu, volume 29, number 4, pages 53—70
* 남풍현 [nampunghyeon] (2004) “시상의 조동사 '在/𠂇/겨'의 발달' [The development of the aspectual auxiliary kye-]”, in Gugeo gukmunhak, volume 138, pages 5—34

## Vietnamese
### Han character

在: Hán Việt readings: tại
在: Nôm readings: tại
* in