Usage of the character 在

to be at home
(at a workplace) to be in (as opposed to being away on official business 出差 (chuchāi))
(Buddhism etc) to remain a layman (as opposed to becoming a monk or a nun 出家 (chujiā))

qiánzài

潜在

[潛在]

hidden
potential
latent

zàixiào

在校

[在校]

(attributive) to be enrolled in a school (or university etc)

zàichǎng

在场

[在場]

to be present; to be on the scene

shízài

实在

[實在]

really
actually
indeed
true
real
honest
dependable
(philosophy) reality

zàijí

在即

[在即]

near at hand
imminent
within sight

zàidú

在读

[在讀]

to be studying (at a school or research institute)

hézài

何在

[何在]

where?
what place?

zàilǐ

在理

[在理]

reasonable
sensible

shèzài

设在

[設在]

to set up in (a particular location)

zàinèi

在内

[在內]

(included) in it
among them

bùzài

不在

[不在]

not to be present
to be out
(euphemism) to pass away
to be deceased

zàiwò

在握

[在握]

(fig.) to hold in one's hands
to be within grasp

zhǐzài

旨在

[旨在]

to have as its purpose
to be intended to
to aim to (do sth)

zàihu

在乎

[在乎]

to rest with; to lie in; to be due to (a certain attribute)
(often used in the negative) to care about

wàizài

外在

[外在]

external
extrinsic

cúnzài

存在

[存在]

to exist
to be
existence

zhèngzài

正在

[正在]

just at (that time)
right in (that place)
right in the middle of (doing sth)

zài Huá

在华

[在華]

within China
during one's visit to China

suǒzài

所在

[所在]

place
location
(after a noun) place where it is located

zàicǐ

在此

[在此]

hereto
here

zàicǐhòu

在此后

[在此後]

after this
from then on

Wén Zàiyín

文在寅

[文在寅]

Moon Jae-in (1953-), Korean politician and human rights lawyer, president of Korea from 2017

xiànzàishì

现在式

[現在式]

present tense

zàixiàfāng

在下方

[在下方]

beneath

zàiyědǎng

在野党

[在野黨]

opposition party

bùzàihu

不在乎

[不在乎]

not to care

bùzàile

不在了

[不在了]

to be dead
to have passed away

suǒzàidì

所在地

[所在地]

location
site

zàiqiāngkǒu

在枪口

[在槍口]

at gunpoint

zàiláimǐ

在来米

[在來米]

long-grained non-glutinous rice (Tw)

zàishìnèi

在室内

[在室內]

indoors

zàiyǎnqián

在眼前

[在眼前]

now
at the present

dàoxiànzài

到现在

[到現在]

up until now
to date

zàixiàmiàn

在下面

[在下面]

underneath

zàinar

在那儿

[在那兒]

(adverbial expression indicating that the attention of the subject of the verb is focused on what they are doing, not distracted by anything else)
just ...ing (and nothing else)

zàiyīqǐ

在一起

[在一起]

together

bùzìzai

不自在

[不自在]

uneasy
ill at ease

zàigāochù

在高处

[在高處]

aloft

zàishēnchù

在深处

[在深處]

deeply

zàihùwài

在户外

[在戶外]

outdoors

zàiwǒkàn

在我看

[在我看]

in my opinion
in my view

bùzàiyì

不在意

[不在意]

to pay no attention to
not to mind

nèizàiměi

内在美

[內在美]

inner beauty

zàidìxià

在地下

[在地下]

underground

fàngzàixīnshàng

放在心上

[放在心上]

to care about
to take seriously
to take to heart

xiànzàifēncí

现在分词

[現在分詞]

present participle (in English grammar)

nèizàijǐhé

内在几何

[內在幾何]

intrinsic geometry

wúsuǒbùzài

无所不在

[無所不在]

omnipresent

zàizhèzhīqián

在这之前

[在這之前]

before then
up until that point

zhìbùzàicǐ

志不在此

[志不在此]

to have one's ambitions elsewhere (idiom)

chéngzhúzàixiōng

成竹在胸

[成竹在胸]

see 胸有成竹 (xiongyouchēngzhu)

ānxiánzìzai

安闲自在

[安閑自在]

leisurely and free (idiom); carefree and at ease

zuǒquànzàiwò

左券在握

[左券在握]

to be assured of success (idiom)

mángcìzàibèi

芒刺在背

[芒刺在背]

feeling brambles and thorns in one's back (idiom)
uneasy and nervous
to be on pins and needles

zàisuǒbùjì

在所不计

[在所不計]

irrespective of
to have no concerns whatsoever about

zàiwèishídài

在位时代

[在位時代]

reign (of a king, emperor etc)

shìzàirénwéi

事在人为

[事在人為]

the matter depends on the individual (idiom); it is a matter for your own effort
With effort, one can achieve anything.

niànzīzàizī

念兹在兹

[念茲在茲]

see 念念不忘 (niànniànbùwàng)

guàzaizuǐshang

挂在嘴上

[掛在嘴上]

to pay lip service to
to keep mentioning (without doing anything)
to blather on about sth

méngzàigǔlǐ

朦在鼓里

[朦在鼓裡]

variant of 蒙在鼓裡／蒙在鼓里 (méngzàigǔlǐ)

zàisuǒnánmiǎn

在所难免

[在所難免]

to be unavoidable (idiom)

fàngzàiyǎnlǐ

放在眼里

[放在眼裡]

to pay attention to
to care about
to attach importance to

wúchùbùzài

无处不在

[無處不在]

to be everywhere

jìnzàiyǎnqián

近在眼前

[近在眼前]

right under one's nose; right in front of one's eyes; close at hand; imminent

bùzàihuàxià

不在话下

[不在話下]

to be nothing difficult
to be a cinch

zàicǐzhīqián

在此之前

[在此之前]

before that
beforehand
previously

yìzhīsuǒzài

义之所在

[義之所在]

justice is to be found everywhere (idiom)

nèizàizuòbiāo

内在坐标

[內在座標]

intrinsic coordinates (geometry)

wàizàichāoyuè

外在超越

[外在超越]

outer transcendence (perfection through the agency of God)

jūxīnhézài

居心何在

[居心何在]

What's (he) up to?
What's the motive behind all this?

chuāizàihuáilǐ

揣在怀里

[揣在懷裡]

to tuck into one's bosom

zhǎobùzìzai

找不自在

[找不自在]

to ask for trouble
to bring misfortune on oneself

qiánzàiwēixié

潜在威胁

[潛在威脅]

potential threat
potential menace

gāogāozàishàng

高高在上

[高高在上]

set up on high (idiom); not in touch with reality
aloof and remote

zàicǐzhīhòu

在此之后

[在此之後]

after this
afterwards
next

xīnbùzàiyān

心不在焉

[心不在焉]

absent-minded
preoccupied
inattentive
with one's thoughts wandering

cúnzàizhǔyì

存在主义

[存在主義]

existentialism

zàisuǒbùcí

在所不辞

[在所不辭]

not to refuse to (idiom)
not to hesitate to

dàquánzàiwò

大权在握

[大權在握]

to be in a position of power

chuāizàihuáilǐ

搋在怀里

[搋在懷裡]

to tuck into one's bosom
also written 揣在懷裡／揣在怀里

xiāoyáozìzai

逍遥自在

[逍遙自在]

free and at leisure (idiom); unfettered
outside the reach of the law (of criminal)
at large

bùzàizhuàngtài

不在状态

[不在狀態]

to be out of form
not to be oneself

wēizàidànxī

危在旦夕

[危在旦夕]

in imminent peril (idiom)
on the brink of crisis

zhìzàisìfāng

志在四方

[志在四方]

to aspire to travel far and make one's mark (idiom)

guàzàizuǐbiān

挂在嘴边

[掛在嘴邊]

to keep saying (sth) over and over

lìlìzàimù

历历在目

[歷歷在目]

vivid in one's mind (idiom)

kànzàiyǎnli

看在眼里

[看在眼裡]

to observe; to take it all in

méngzàigǔlǐ

蒙在鼓里

[矇在鼓裡]

variant of 蒙在鼓裡／蒙在鼓里 (méngzàigǔlǐ)

méngzàigǔlǐ

蒙在鼓里

[蒙在鼓裡]

lit. kept inside a drum (idiom)
fig. completely in the dark

bìngbùzàihu

并不在乎

[並不在乎]

really does not care

zàizhèqījiān

在这期间

[在這期間]

during time
in this time

zìyóuzìzai

自繇自在

[自繇自在]

free and easy (idiom); carefree
leisurely

kùnnanzàiyú

困难在于

[困難在於]

the problem is...

zàicǐzhījì

在此之际

[在此之際]

meanwhile
at the same time

rúgěngzàihóu

如鲠在喉

[如鯁在喉]

lit. as if having a fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom)
fig. very upset and needing to express one's displeasure

zhídàoxiànzài

直到现在

[直到現在]

even now
until now
right up to the present

zàizhíxùnliàn

在职训练

[在職訓練]

on-the-job training

zìyóuzìzài

自由自在

[自由自在]

free and easy (idiom); carefree
leisurely

jìzàixīnli

记在心里

[記在心裡]

to keep in mind; to store in one's heart; to remember perfectly

shìzàibìdé

势在必得

[勢在必得]

to be determined to win (idiom)

nèizàichāoyuè

内在超越

[內在超越]

inner transcendence (perfection through one's own inner moral cultivation, as in Confucianism, for example)

huáihènzàixīn

怀恨在心

[懷恨在心]

to harbor hard feelings

dàyǒurénzài

大有人在

[大有人在]

there are plenty of such people

lèzàiqízhōng

乐在其中

[樂在其中]

to take pleasure in sth (idiom)

jùzàiyīqǐ

聚在一起

[聚在一起]

to get together

yányóuzài'ěr

言犹在耳

[言猶在耳]

words still ringing in one's ears (idiom)

gǔgěngzàihóu

骨鲠在喉

[骨鯁在喉]

fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom); fig. to feel obliged to speak out candidly
sth on one's mind

zhìzhūzàiwò

智珠在握

[智珠在握]

lit. to hold the pearl of wisdom (idiom)
fig. to be endowed with extraordinary intelligence

zhūyùzàicè

珠玉在侧

[珠玉在側]

gems at the side (idiom); flanked by genius

zàitiānzhīlíng

在天之灵

[在天之靈]

soul and spirit of the deceased

qiánzàiméijiè

潜在媒介

[潛在媒介]

potential vector

shènglìzàiwàng

胜利在望

[勝利在望]

victory is in sight

pòzàiméijié

迫在眉睫

[迫在眉睫]

pressing in on one's eyelashes (idiom); imminent

lǎoshénzàizài

老神在在

[老神在在]

calm; unperturbed (from Taiwanese, Tai-lo pr. (lāu-sîn-tsāi-tsāi))

mìngzàidànxī

命在旦夕

[命在旦夕]

to be at death's door (idiom)

shìzàibìxíng

势在必行

[勢在必行]

circumstances require action (idiom); absolutely necessary
imperative

yǒuyuēzàixiān

有约在先

[有約在先]

to have a prior engagement

zàiwǒkànlái

在我看来

[在我看來]

in my opinion

mǎnbùzàihu

满不在乎

[滿不在乎]

not in the least concerned (idiom)
reckless
couldn't give a damn about it
unperturbed
couldn't care less
harum scarum

Měiguó Zàixiàn

美国在线

[美國在線]

America Online (AOL)

jìnzàizhǐchǐ

近在咫尺

[近在咫尺]

to be almost within reach
to be close at hand

nèizàijǐhéxué

内在几何学

[內在幾何學]

intrinsic geometry

zàisùsòngqījiān

在诉讼期间

[在訴訟期間]

pendente lite
during litigation

miàozàibùyánzhōng

妙在不言中

[妙在不言中]

the charm lies in what is left unsaid (idiom)

qiánzàiwēixiǎndù

潜在危险度

[潛在危險度]

latent hazard

ròulànzàiguōlǐ

肉烂在锅里

[肉爛在鍋裡]

lit. the meat falls apart as it stews, but it all stays in the pot (idiom)
fig. some of us may lose or gain, but in any case the benefits don't go to outsiders

bāozàiwǒshēnshang

包在我身上

[包在我身上]

leave it to me (idiom)
I'll take care of it

chéngbàizàicǐyījǔ

成败在此一举

[成敗在此一舉]

win or lose, it all ends here
this is the moment to shine

chǒuhuàshuōzàiqiántou

丑话说在前头

[醜話說在前頭]

let's talk about the unpleasant things first; let's be frank

hǎoxìháizàihòutou

好戏还在后头

[好戲還在後頭]

the best part of the show is yet to come
(with ironic tone) the worst is yet to come
you ain't seen nothin' yet

shēngmìngzàiyúyùndòng

生命在于运动

[生命在於運動]

life is motion (popular saying with many possible interpretations)
Physical effort is vital for our bodies to function (Aristotle).
Life derives from physical exercise.

wúxiànfēngguāngzàixiǎnfēng

无限风光在险峰

[無限風光在險峰]

The boundless vista is at the perilous peak (proverb)
fig. exhilaration follows a hard-won victory

dúzàiyìxiāngwéiyìkè

独在异乡为异客

[獨在異鄉為異客]

a stranger in a strange land (from a poem by Wang Wei 王維／王维 ( Wáng Wéi))

shēnzài Cáoyíngxīnzài Hàn

身在曹营心在汉

[身在曹營心在漢]

live in Cao camp but have the heart in Han camp (idiom)
to be somewhere while longing to be somewhere else

xiānhuāchāzàiniúfènshàng

鲜花插在牛粪上

[鮮花插在牛糞上]

lit. a bunch of flowers poked into a pile of manure
fig. a terrible shame (as when a lovely woman marries an odious man)

yīniánzhījìzàiyúchūn

一年之计在于春

[一年之計在於春]

the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom)
early planning is the key to success

zuìwēngzhīyìbùzàijiǔ

醉翁之意不在酒

[醉翁之意不在酒]

wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol
having an ulterior motive
to have other things in mind
with an ax to grind
accomplishing something besides what one set out to do

bǎxīnfàngzàidùzilǐ

把心放在肚子里

[把心放在肚子裡]

(coll.) to be completely at ease

yīrìzhījìzàiyúchén

一日之计在于晨

[一日之計在於晨]

make your day's plan early in the morning (idiom)
early morning is the golden time of the day

yángmáochūzàiyángshēnshàng

羊毛出在羊身上

[羊毛出在羊身上]

lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.
Nothing comes for free.

shēnzàifúzhōngbùzhīfú

身在福中不知福

[身在福中不知福]

to live in plenty without appreciating it (idiom); not to know when one is well off

Tàiyáng Zhào Zài Sānggān Hé Shàng

太阳照在桑干河上

[太陽照在桑乾河上]

The Sun Shines over the Sanggan River, proletarian novel by Ding Ling, winner of 1951 Stalin prize

bùzàiqíwèibùmóuqízhèng

不在其位不谋其政

[不在其位不謀其政]

don't meddle in affairs that are not part of your position (Confucius)

bāoziyǒuròubùzàizhěshàng

包子有肉不在褶上

[包子有肉不在褶上]

a book is not judged by its cover (idiom)

yǎngbīngqiānrì,yòngzàiyīshí

养兵千日，用在一时

[養兵千日，用在一時]

see 養兵千日，用兵一時／养兵千日，用兵一时 (yǎngbīngqiānrì,yòngbīngyīshí)

móushìzàirén,chéngshìzàitiān

谋事在人，成事在天

[謀事在人，成事在天]

planning is with man, accomplishing with heaven (idiom); Man proposes but God disposes.

Xiàng Zhuāngwǔjiàn,yìzài Pèigōng

项庄舞剑，意在沛公

[項莊舞劍，意在沛公]

lit. Xiang Zhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 劉邦／刘邦 ( Liú Bāng) (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang, aka Duke of Pei 沛公 ( Pèigōng) and the future Han emperor, during a sword dance at the Hongmen feast 鴻門宴／鸿门宴 ( Hóngményàn)
an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent

bùyàozàiyīkēshùshàngdiàosǐ

不要在一棵树上吊死

[不要在一棵樹上吊死]

don't insist on only taking one road to Rome (idiom)
there's more than one way to skin a cat

yǎngbīngqiānrì,yòngzàiyīzhāo

养兵千日，用在一朝

[養兵千日，用在一朝]

lit. train an army for a thousand days to use it for one morning (idiom)
fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off

Xiàng Zhuāngwǔjiàn,zhìzài Pèigōng

项庄舞剑，志在沛公

[項莊舞劍，志在沛公]

see 項莊舞劍，意在沛公／项庄舞剑，意在沛公 ( Xiàng Zhuāngwǔjiàn,yìzài Pèigōng)

lǎojìfúlì,zhìzàiqiānlǐ

老骥伏枥，志在千里

[老驥伏櫪，志在千里]

lit. an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop 1000 miles (idiom); fig. old people may still cherish high aspirations

rénzàijiānghú,shēnbùyóujǐ

人在江湖，身不由己

[人在江湖，身不由己]

you can't always do as you like
one has to compromise in this world (idiom)

yìcúnbǐxiān,huàjìnyìzài

意存笔先，画尽意在

[意存筆先，畫盡意在]

the idea is present before the first stroke of the brush, when the last stroke is placed the idea shines through

Yīgèyōulíngzài Oūzhōuyóudàng

一个幽灵在欧洲游荡

[一個幽靈在歐洲遊蕩]

Ein Gespenst geht um in Europa ("A specter is haunting Europe", the opening sentence of Marx and Engels' "Communist Manifesto")

tánglángbǔchán,huángquèzàihòu

螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后

[螳螂捕蟬，黃雀在後]

the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子／庄子 ( Zhuāngzǐ)); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger

shéixiàozàizuìhòu,shéixiàodézuìhǎo

谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好

[誰笑在最後，誰笑得最好]

He laughs best who laughs last.

shīfulǐngjìnmén,xiūxíngzàigèrén

师父领进门，修行在个人

[師父領進門，修行在個人]

the master leads you to the door, the rest is up to you
you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink

bùtīnglǎorényán,chīkuīzàiyǎnqián

不听老人言，吃亏在眼前

[不聽老人言，吃虧在眼前]

(idiom) ignore your elders at your peril

chángzàihébiānzǒu,nǎyǒubùshīxié

常在河边走，哪有不湿鞋

[常在河邊走，哪有不濕鞋]

a person who regularly walks by the river cannot avoid getting their shoes wet (proverb)
(fig.) it comes with the territory (e.g. a person with the power to grant favors will inevitably succumb to temptation and take a bribe)

zàijiāqiānrìhǎo,chūményīshínán

在家千日好，出门一时难

[在家千日好，出門一時難]

lit. at home, one can spend a thousand days in comfort, but spending a day away from home can be challenging (idiom)
fig. there's no place like home

liúdeqīngshānzài,bùpàméicháishāo

留得青山在，不怕没柴烧

[留得青山在，不怕沒柴燒]

While the green hills last, there'll be wood to burn (idiom). Where there's life there's hope.

lǎoshǔtuōmùxiān,dàtóuzàihòutou

老鼠拖木锨，大头在后头

[老鼠拖木鍁，大頭在後頭]

when the mice drag a shovel, the biggest thing comes second
the tip of the iceberg
the cockroach principle

zàijiākàofùmǔ,chūménkàopéngyou

在家靠父母，出门靠朋友

[在家靠父母，出門靠朋友]

one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)

zàijiākàofùmǔ,chūwàikàopéngyou

在家靠父母，出外靠朋友

[在家靠父母，出外靠朋友]

one depends on one's parents when at home, and on one's friends when away from home (idiom)

zàitiānyuànzuòbǐyìniǎo,zàidìyuànzuòliánlǐzhī

在天愿做比翼鸟，在地愿做连理枝

[在天願做比翼鳥，在地願做連理枝]

In the sky to be two birds flying wing to wing, on earth to be two trees with branches intertwined
wishing for conjugal bliss

qióngzàinàoshìwúrénwèn,fùzàishēnshānyǒuyuǎnqīn

穷在闹市无人问，富在深山有远亲

[窮在鬧市無人問，富在深山有遠親]

the poor are ignored in the busiest city; the rich will find relatives in the deepest mountain