<p>For what you are asking 在 and 正在 are basically interchangeable.</p>

<p>You will rarely hear <strong>正在</strong> in colloquial, normal, conversation - it is quite <em>formal</em> and <em>elaborate</em>. For instance looking up <code>你正在干什么？</code> gives a result from Google Books reading:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>此时你正在干什么？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>No one would <em>really</em> talk like this unless you're playing a role in an old-timey kind of show or something like that.</p>

<p><strong>在</strong> you could contest is an abbreviation of <strong>正在</strong> in your given scenario and is the most down-to-earth way to express something currently being underway. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-16T11:00:44.583Z
I wouldn't say **rarely hear 正在 in normal colloquial conversations**. For example, 我现在正在和朋友喝茶。
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-16T12:33:25.807Z
seems confirmed by comment #1
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-15T17:06:25.420Z
2018-02-15T17:06:25.420Z
Mou某
<p>From what I learned, 在 means you're doing something, while 正在 means you're doing something right now. For instance:</p>

<p>我在学习中文。
I'm studying Chinese language (this year, this month, not necessarily in this moment).</p>

<p>我正在学习中文。
I'm studying Chinese language right now (the book is open in front of me, please don't disturb).</p>

<p>Not sure if this difference exists all the time, though.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-18T01:39:05.840Z
2018-02-18T01:39:05.840Z
Rodrigo
<p>I am a beginner in Chinese (Mandarin), and I am following a phone app to learn.</p>

<p>However I cannot understand what is the difference between 正在 and 在 ? For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你正在干什么？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你在干什么？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The app says that they are interchangeable... is it always the case?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-11T05:45:36.943Z
The difference is like @Rodrigo answered, also you can use 在 instead of 正在 in all cases.
xenophōn
<grammar><meaning>
Difference between 正在 and 在?
# Difference between 正在 and 在?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-15)

I am a beginner in Chinese (Mandarin), and I am following a phone app to learn.

However I cannot understand what is the difference between 正在 and 在 ? For example:

> 你正在干什么？

and

> 你在干什么？

The app says that they are interchangeable... is it always the case?

**Tags:** grammar, meaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The difference is like @username_5 answered, also you can use 在 instead of 正在 in all cases.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-02-15. Score: 6

For what you are asking 在 and 正在 are basically interchangeable.

You will rarely hear **正在** in colloquial, normal, conversation - it is quite *formal* and *elaborate*. For instance looking up `你正在干什么？` gives a result from Google Books reading:

> 此时你正在干什么？

No one would *really* talk like this unless you're playing a role in an old-timey kind of show or something like that.

**在** you could contest is an abbreviation of **正在** in your given scenario and is the most down-to-earth way to express something currently being underway.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I wouldn't say **rarely hear 正在 in normal colloquial conversations**. For example, 我现在正在和朋友喝茶。  
> **username_4**: seems confirmed by comment #1  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2018-02-18. Score: 5

From what I learned, 在 means you're doing something, while 正在 means you're doing something right now. For instance:

我在学习中文。
I'm studying Chinese language (this year, this month, not necessarily in this moment).

我正在学习中文。
I'm studying Chinese language right now (the book is open in front of me, please don't disturb).

Not sure if this difference exists all the time, though.


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