What is the difference between 在 and 正在?
Put 在 or 正在 before a verb to say an action is in progress: 我在吃饭, 我正在吃饭. 正在 puts more weight on "right at this moment". 在 is also the verb "to be at" and the preposition "at" (我在家, 在学校学习), which 正在 is not. Adding 呢 at the end is common in speech: 他在睡觉呢.
| 在 | in progress: 你在做什么？; also at / to be at: 在家, 在北京工作 |
|---|---|
| 正在 | right now, at this moment: 我正在开会，一会儿给你打电话 |
在 zài
From the readings on this site
- 你住在哪儿？Where do you live?HSK 1 · 我住在哪儿
- 妈妈在家做菜。Mom is at home cooking.HSK 1 · 回家
- 钥匙不在桌子上。The keys are not on the table.HSK 1 · 找钥匙
正在 zhèngzài
From the readings on this site
- 妈妈正在做饭，她说：“回来了，快来吃饭。”Mom was cooking, and she said: "You're back, come eat."HSK 2 · 我回来了
- 她说：“我正在做蛋糕，明天是我妈妈的生日。”She says: "I'm making a cake right now — tomorrow is my mom's birthday."HSK 2 · 你在做什么
- 出门的时候，外面正在下大雨，我没有带伞。When I went out, it was raining hard outside, and I hadn't brought an umbrella.HSK 3 · 着急的一天