4 · Expressions (level 4)
Under, in and in terms of: zài … xià, zhōng, shàng
abstract frames built like places
Zài, a noun and xià, zhōng or shàng set the condition, the process or the area a statement holds in.
在桌子上 puts something on a table. The same frame — 在 + noun + place word — also works with abstract nouns, and then it sets the circumstances of a whole sentence. 在…下, “under”, takes a condition, a help, an influence or a leadership: 在老师的帮助下, “with the teacher’s help”, literally “under the teacher’s help”.
在…中, “in”, places something inside a process, an activity or a group: 在学习中, in the course of studying; 在这些人中, among these people. 在…上, “on”, limits a statement to an area: 在工作上, as far as work goes; 在这个问题上, on this issue.
The place word follows the noun, and each noun has its favourite. Conditions and support take 下: 帮助, 支持, 影响, 情况, 条件, 压力. Processes and groups take 中: 过程, 比赛, 讨论. Areas take 上: 工作, 学习, 历史, 问题.
English speakers translate “with your help” with 用 or 跟, and “under these circumstances” word for word. Chinese says 在你的帮助下 and 在这种情况下, and puts the frame before the verb, usually at the start of the sentence.
The form
| under a condition | 在这种情况下，… |
| with somebody’s help | 在朋友的帮助下，… |
| in the course of | 在比赛中，… |
| among | 在这些书中，… |
| as regards | 在工作上，… |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
Zài … xià sets a condition, a support or an influence under which something happens.
在父母的支持下，他开了一家咖啡馆。With his parents’ support, he opened a café.
Zài … zhōng places something within a process, an activity or a group.
在讨论中，大家提出了很多好办法。In the discussion, people came up with many good ideas.
Zài … shàng limits a statement to one area: as regards, in terms of.
在学习上，他从来不让父母操心。When it comes to studying, he has never given his parents anything to worry about.
The whole frame stands before the verb, usually at the start of the sentence.
他在压力下反而做得更好。Under pressure, he actually does even better.
A closer look
Picturing the three frames
The place words keep their spatial picture. 下 is “underneath”: help, support and pressure are something you stand under, like a roof or a weight. 中 is “inside”: you are in the middle of a process or among a group. 上 is “on”: a statement is placed on one point or one area and holds there.
In the spoken language 里 often does the job of 中: 在生活里 sounds more relaxed than 在生活中. And 在…方面, “in the area of”, is a slightly more formal neighbour of 在…上.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the noun is 方面
no place word is added: 在这方面.
在这方面，他比我有经验。In this respect, he has more experience than I do.
方面 already means “aspect, area”; it does by itself the job that 上 does after other nouns.
How to spot it
- 在…下
- 在…中
- 在…上
- 的帮助下
- 情况下
Example sentences
在大家的帮助下，我很快就适应了新工作。With everyone’s help, I quickly got used to the new job.
在这种情况下，我们只好改天再去。In this situation, we will just have to go another day.
在生活中，我们常常会遇到各种各样的问题。In life, we often come across all sorts of problems.
在这个问题上，我和他的看法不一样。On this issue, his view and mine are not the same.
在所有的颜色中，我最喜欢蓝色。Of all the colours, I like blue best.
孩子们在老师的带领下参观了博物馆。Led by their teacher, the children visited the museum.
8 more example sentences
在医生的建议下，他戒了烟。On the doctor’s advice, he gave up smoking.
在一般情况下，我七点起床。Normally, I get up at seven.
在比赛中，他的脚受了伤。He hurt his foot during the match.
在我们班的同学中，她的中文最好。Of all the students in our class, her Chinese is the best.
在工作上他很严格，在生活中却很好说话。At work he is strict, but in everyday life he is very easy to get on with.
在父母的影响下，她从小就爱看书。Influenced by her parents, she has loved reading since she was small.
在历史上，这座城市曾经是首都。Historically, this city was once the capital.
在学习的过程中，犯错是很正常的。Making mistakes is perfectly normal in the course of learning.
Worth knowing (1)
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Shēnghuó takes two place words
在生活中 means “in life”: the things that happen to people. 在生活上 means “as regards daily living”: food, housing, practical care. The noun is the same; the place word decides which sense is meant.
在生活上，学校给了我们很多照顾。As regards day-to-day living, the school took good care of us.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English “with your help” suggests 用, but 用 is for tools in the hand. Help is something you act under: 在…的帮助下.
Conditions take xià, processes take zhōng, areas take shàng — and zài opens all three.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.