HSK 4 grammar · pattern
在…上/下/中
在…上/下/中 — abstract framing (aspect / condition / process)
Pattern
+ +
in respect of
+ +
under
+ +
in the course of
( ) can be left out · other words may come before, between and after
How it works
Abstract 在…上/下/中 frames a statement: 上 gives a respect or aspect (在学习上), 下 gives a condition (在老师的帮助下), 中 gives an ongoing process (在讨论中). These are figurative, not literal positions.
Examples
在学习上，他从不马虎。
Zài xuéxí shàng, tā cóng bù mǎhu.
In his studies, he is never careless.
在大家的帮助下，我们完成了任务。
Zài dàjiā de bāngzhù xià, wǒmen wánchéng le rènwù.
With everyone's help, we finished the task.
这个问题还在讨论中。
Zhège wèntí hái zài tǎolùn zhōng.
This issue is still under discussion.
Related
See it in a story
In the app, 在…上/下/中 is underlined wherever it appears in the stories you read, and practised with sentences from them. Free.