<p>The different between 「处于」and 「处在」is answered well in @dan, and I prefer to explain why Pleco use "be".
Actually the mean of the two word can be explained to <strong>"be in"</strong>, and it's used to <strong>in a condition or situation</strong>.That means it's usually used as <strong>「处于/处在...... 中」</strong>，but it is not in this form absolutely. We can also use like this:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>「我们必须和一切爱好和平自由的国家和人民团结在一起……使我们的保障人民革命胜利成果和反对内外敌人复辟阴谋的斗争不致<strong>处于</strong>孤立地位。」 ————毛泽东 《中国人民站起来了》</p>
</blockquote>

<p>And if you want more further explanation，you can visit <a href="http://www.hydcd.com/zidian/hz/10444.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.hydcd.com/zidian/hz/10444.htm</a> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-20T05:37:36.783Z
2017-10-20T05:37:36.783Z
pauke Huang
<p>Most of time they are interchangeable. </p>

<p>'处于/处在 ... XXXX' means 'be in the XXXX of ...'. In this context, it's "be in the environment of"</p>

<p>So, 处在容易睡眠的环境中 == 处于容易睡眠的环境中 == be in the environment of "easy-to-sleep" or be in the easy-to-sleep environment.</p>

<p>处于 has more literary flavor than 处在, as 于 is a classical character. </p>

<p>I could be different according to the contexts, but basically, 是=be, 为=for, 当=as. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T00:56:34.810Z
2017-09-06T01:30:02.733Z
2017-09-06T01:30:02.733Z
dan
<p>I just read <a href="http://japan.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0901/c368584-29510335.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the article</a> titled <em>睡眠时间男女不同 日本女性很难入睡</em>, and in the article, I read the following sentence:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>据《读卖新闻》下属的网络媒体报道，在几乎所有主要国家中，女性睡眠都比较好，尤其是北欧国家的女性<strong>处在</strong>容易睡眠的环境中。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Then I learned that 处在 is a synonym of 处于, and the meaning of 处于 is "be".</p>

<p>However, there are also many similar words in Mandarin that mean "be" - 是，为，当, etc... (maybe 处在 includes the meaning of "in" in English but still, 是在 seems to work just like 处在). What is the difference of 处在/处于 from these words and in what kind of situation should these words be preferred? </p>

<hr>

<h3>UPDATE</h3>

<p>Sorry if my question is obscure, but I would like to know the difference between 处于/处在 and other similar words (e.g. 是，为，当), not the difference between 处于 and 处在.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T03:58:21.967Z
处于  more  widely used than 处在, find many more fixed expressions involving 处于  at bkrs,    **处在**     to be situated at
to find oneself at
be (in a certain condition)
同义: 处于, 居于
   **处于**  ：在某种地位或状态：处于优势 | 伤员处于昏迷状态。[be (in a certain condition); stand in; find oneself in] 居于某种地位或状态
处于有利的地位处于被动 be in a passive position; be thrown into passivity
处于低潮 at a low ebb
处于极度兴奋中 freak out
处于僵局 be at a deadlock etc。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T09:40:40.930Z
But they are not similar at all. I think there is a clear distinction in dicts between 处于/处在 and 是/为/当.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T09:41:49.337Z
@dan At least my dictionary (Pleco) lists them as “be”.
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T09:43:34.677Z
You can refer to the comment @user6065 for the meaning of 处于 and 处在.
dan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T10:05:58.947Z
Also I have interpreted the meaning of 处于/处在 in my answer. You would see clearly difference from 'be'.
dan
<meaning><meaning-in-context><verbs>
In what kind of contexts should you use 处于/处在?
# In what kind of contexts should you use 处于/处在?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-09-06)

I just read [the article](http://japan.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0901/c368584-29510335.html) titled *睡眠时间男女不同 日本女性很难入睡*, and in the article, I read the following sentence:

> 据《读卖新闻》下属的网络媒体报道，在几乎所有主要国家中，女性睡眠都比较好，尤其是北欧国家的女性**处在**容易睡眠的环境中。

Then I learned that 处在 is a synonym of 处于, and the meaning of 处于 is "be".

However, there are also many similar words in Mandarin that mean "be" - 是，为，当, etc... (maybe 处在 includes the meaning of "in" in English but still, 是在 seems to work just like 处在). What is the difference of 处在/处于 from these words and in what kind of situation should these words be preferred?

---

### UPDATE

Sorry if my question is obscure, but I would like to know the difference between 处于/处在 and other similar words (e.g. 是，为，当), not the difference between 处于 and 处在.

**Tags:** meaning, meaning-in-context, verbs

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 处于  more  widely used than 处在, find many more fixed expressions involving 处于  at bkrs,    **处在**     to be situated at to find oneself at be (in a certain condition) 同义: 处于, 居于    **处于**  ：在某种地位或状态：处于优势 | 伤员处于昏迷状态。[be (in a certain condition); stand in; find oneself in] 居于某种地位或状态 处于有利的地位处于被动 be in a passive position; be thrown into passivity 处于低潮 at a low ebb 处于极度兴奋中 freak out 处于僵局 be at a deadlock etc。  
> **username_2**: But they are not similar at all. I think there is a clear distinction in dicts between 处于/处在 and 是/为/当.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 At least my dictionary (Pleco) lists them as “be”.  
> **username_2**: You can refer to the comment @username_1 for the meaning of 处于 and 处在.  
> **username_2**: Also I have interpreted the meaning of 处于/处在 in my answer. You would see clearly difference from 'be'.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-10-20. Score: 2

The different between 「处于」and 「处在」is answered well in @username_2, and I prefer to explain why Pleco use "be".
Actually the mean of the two word can be explained to **"be in"**, and it's used to **in a condition or situation**.That means it's usually used as **「处于/处在...... 中」**，but it is not in this form absolutely. We can also use like this:

> 「我们必须和一切爱好和平自由的国家和人民团结在一起……使我们的保障人民革命胜利成果和反对内外敌人复辟阴谋的斗争不致**处于**孤立地位。」 ————毛泽东 《中国人民站起来了》

And if you want more further explanation，you can visit <http://www.hydcd.com/zidian/hz/10444.htm>


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-09-06. Score: 1

Most of time they are interchangeable.

'处于/处在 ... XXXX' means 'be in the XXXX of ...'. In this context, it's "be in the environment of"

So, 处在容易睡眠的环境中 == 处于容易睡眠的环境中 == be in the environment of "easy-to-sleep" or be in the easy-to-sleep environment.

处于 has more literary flavor than 处在, as 于 is a classical character.

I could be different according to the contexts, but basically, 是=be, 为=for, 当=as.


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