在 zài — (located) at; in; exist
妈妈在厨房里做饭。Mā ma zài chú fáng lǐ zuò fàn.Mom is cooking in the kitchen.
Common words: 现在 (xiàn zài)、正在 (zhèng zài)、在家 (zài jiā)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "exist"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "exist", including 在 (zài), 存 (cún). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "exist" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 在 (zài), 存 (cún) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span zài, cún — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 在 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 在 zài(located) at; in; existUseful words: 现在, 正在
- 存 cúnexist; deposit; store; keep; surviveUseful words: 存在, 生存
Common words for these 2 "exist" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 在 (zài) — so "exist" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
现在xiàn zàinow; at present; currently正在zhèng zàito be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing在家zài jiāto be at home; (at a workplace) to be in; (Buddhism etc) to remain a layman存在cún zàito exist; to be; existence生存shēng cúnto exist; to survive保存bǎo cúnto conserve; to preserve; to keep; to store
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "exist".
存 cún — exist; deposit; store; keep; survive
我去银行存钱。Wǒ qù yín háng cún qián.I went to the bank to deposit money.
Common words: 存在 (cún zài)、生存 (shēng cún)、保存 (bǎo cún)
All 2 characters
Open 在、存 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.