How common it is
在场 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say zài chǎng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
在场指某人在某个地方或事件发生时就在那里。
Zàichǎng zhǐ mǒurén zài mǒu gè dìfāng huò shìjiàn fāshēng shí jiù zài nàlǐ.
Being present means someone is at a certain place or at the time an event happens.
Context note
在课堂上，老师希望所有学生都在场。
Zài kètáng shàng, lǎoshī xīwàng suǒyǒu xuéshēng dōu zàichǎng.
In class, the teacher hopes all students are present.
5 examples
今天所有同学都在场。
jīn tiān suǒ yǒu tóng xué dōu zài chǎng。
All classmates are present today.
比赛时，教练也在场。
bǐ sài shí， jiào liàn yě zài chǎng。
During the game, the coach was also present.
家长会时，爸爸在场。
jiā zhǎng huì shí， bà ba zài chǎng。
At the parent meeting, Dad was present.
生日派对上，很多朋友在场。
shēng rì pài duì shàng， hěn duō péng yǒu zài chǎng。
At the birthday party, many friends were present.
老师点名时，大家都要在场。
lǎo shī diǎn míng shí， dà jiā dōu yào zài chǎng。
When the teacher calls the roll, everyone must be present.
5 mini stories
运动会那天，全校师生都在场。大家都很兴奋。
yùn dòng huì nà tiān， quán xiào shī shēng dōu zài chǎng。 dà jiā dōu hěn xīng fèn。
On sports day, all teachers and students were present. Everyone was very excited.
小明的表演很精彩，他的家人都在场观看。
xiǎo míng de biǎo yǎn hěn jīng cǎi， tā de jiā rén dōu zài chǎng guān kàn。
Xiao Ming's performance was wonderful, and his family were all present watching.
故事比赛中，评委老师都在场。小丽讲得很棒。
gù shì bǐ sài zhōng， píng wěi lǎo shī dōu zài chǎng。 xiǎo lì jiǎng dé hěn bàng。
During the storytelling contest, the judge teachers were all present. Xiao Li told it very well.
班级合唱时，音乐老师在场指导。同学们唱得整齐。
bān jí hé chàng shí， yīn yuè lǎo shī zài chǎng zhǐ dǎo。 tóng xué men chàng dé zhěng qí。
During the class choir, the music teacher was present to guide. The classmates sang in unison.
小刚在操场摔倒，很多同学在场帮忙。
xiǎo gāng zài cāo chǎng shuāi dǎo， hěn duō tóng xué zài chǎng bāng máng。
Xiao Gang fell on the playground, and many classmates were present to help.