The adverbs 在 / 正在

In Chinese, 在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) stand before a verb and show that the action is going on right now.

In English it corresponds to the present continuous.

This section shows three ways of expressing an action in progress.

Form 1: 在 / 正在 + verb

在 / 正在 + verb

Meaning: is doing … right now

Form 2: 在 / 正在 + verb + 呢

在 / 正在 + verb + 呢

Meaning: is right in the middle of doing …

Here 呢 underlines the ongoing situation.

Form 3: verb + 呢

Verb + 呢

This form also says the action is going on at this moment.

Negative form

没（有）is used to negate an action in progress.

没（有）+ verb

Meaning: is not doing it

你(Nǐ)还(hái)在(zài)读(dú)大(dà)学(xué)吗(ma)？

Are you still studying at university?

Structure

还 + 在 + 读大学 still + right now + study at university

还(hái)still

在(zài)marks the action as ongoing

读(dú)大(dà)学(xué)study at university

学(Xué)生(sheng)们(men)正(zhèng)在(zài)上(shàng)课(kè)呢(ne)。

The students are in class right now.

在 and 正在 are interchangeable here: 学生们在上课呢。学生们正在上课呢。

Structure

学生们 + 在 / 正在 + 上课 + 呢 the students + right now + have class + ongoing

学(xué)生(sheng)们(men)the students

上(shàng)课(kè)have class

呢(ne)underlines the ongoing situation

我(Wǒ)们(men)读(dú)书(shū)呢(ne)。

We're reading right now.

Structure

我们 + 读书 + 呢 we + read + ongoing

There is no 在 / 正在 here, but 呢 shows the action is under way.

In dialogue

你(Nǐ)在(zài)做(zuò)什(shén)么(me)呢(ne)？

What are you doing right now?

我(Wǒ)正(zhèng)在(zài)看(kàn)电(diàn)视(shì)。

I'm watching TV right now.

正在 + 看电视 right now + watch TV

我(Wǒ)去(qù)看(kàn)电(diàn)影(yǐng)，你(nǐ)去(qù)不(bu)去(qù)？

I'm going to see a movie, are you coming?

我(Wǒ)在(zài)学(xué)习(xí)呢(ne)，不(bù)想(xiǎng)去(qù)。

I'm studying right now, I don't want to go.

在 + 学习 + 呢 right now + study + ongoing

你(Nǐ)在(zài)买(mǎi)菜(cài)吗(ma)？

Are you buying groceries right now?

我(Wǒ)没(méi)买(mǎi)菜(cài)，买(mǎi)水(shuǐ)果(guǒ)呢(ne)。

I'm not buying groceries, I'm buying fruit.

Structure

没 + 买菜 not buying groceries

买水果 + 呢 buying fruit

The rule in short

If the action is going on now

在 / 正在 + verb or 在 / 正在 + verb + 呢 or verb + 呢

Meaning: is doing … right now

Negative

没（有）+ verb

Meaning: is not doing it

Examples

我(Wǒ)正(zhèng)在(zài)看(kàn)电(diàn)视(shì)。

I'm watching TV right now.

我(Wǒ)在(zài)学(xué)习(xí)呢(ne)。

I'm studying right now.

我(Wǒ)们(men)读(dú)书(shū)呢(ne)。

We're reading right now.

我(Wǒ)没(méi)买(mǎi)菜(cài)。

I'm not buying groceries.