In the study of modern Chinese, the "Zai(在)" that acts alone as the core of the predicate is generally regarded as a verb, while the "Zai(在)" that is used in conjunction with other verb structures is considered as a preposition. The preposition "Zai(在)" has two positions —— before the verb and after the verb. In the ancient Chinese , the usage of "Zai(在)" combined with other verbs has already appeared, and both front and back positions are also available. There are two different views on the "Zai(在)" of ancient Chinese: one is represented by Ma Jianzhong and Wang Li, considering it as a verb; the other is represented by Yang Shuda, considering it as a preposition. Related to this, there are different views on when the preposition "Zai(在)" appeared: (1) Yang Shuda is the representative and believes that the word "Zai(在)" has been used as a preposition in the Zhou and Qin Dynasties. (2) Wang Li believes that the preposition "Zai(在)" originated in the Western Jin Dynasty. (3) Guo Xiliang believes that the preposition "Zai(在)" originated in the Western Han Dynasty. Different judgments are made for the same linguistic phenomenon. This is due to differences in the criteria for the judgment. This article implements Wang Li’s systematic view of language research, and uses the identification criteria of preposition "Zai(在)" in modern Chinese research to investigate and study this language fact. First of all, Mr. Wang believes that in the system of the ancient Chinese, there was a confrontation between the preposition “Yu (于/於)” and the verb "Zai(在)"; only if the "Zai(在)" replaced the “Yu (于/於)” , preposition "Zai(在)" was really present. Secondly, in modern Chinese, the prepositional "Zai(在)" has the compatible grammatical and semantic features as the verb "Zai(在)" , but there is also a grammatical feature that is opposite to the verb "Zai(在)". The characteristics that determine its independence are the latter. Based on these methods, This article also uses it as an identification standard, and proves that the "Zai(在)" is a verb in the ancient Chinese. It is in opposition to the preposition “Yu (于/於)”. In Chinese history, the usage of the preposition "Zai(在)" first appeared in the middle and late Eastern Han Dynasty.
在现代汉语研究中,一般把单独充当谓语核心的“在”看作动词,而把同其他动词结构连用的“在”看成介词。介词“在”又有动词前和动词后两个位置。上古汉语时期,“在”同其他动词连用的用法已经产生,且前后两个位置也都具备了。关于上古汉语的“在”这种用法有两种不同的看法:一种是马建忠和王力为代表,认为是动词;另一种是杨树达为代表,认为是介词。与此相关,关于介词“在”的产生时代也有以下不同的看法。(1)以杨树达先生为代表,认为周秦时代“在”字已经用作介词。(2)王力先生认为介词“在”产生于西晋。(3)以郭锡良先生为代表,认为介词“在”产生于西汉。对于相同的语言现象做出不同判定,这是由于判定的标准不同产生的。本文贯彻王力先生语言研究的系统观思想,并借助现代汉语介词“在”的鉴定标准,对这一语言事实进行调查和研究。首先,王力先生认为:在上古汉语的系统中,存在着介词“于(於 )”同动词“在”的对立;只有当“在”字代替了“于”字时,“在”字才真正成为介词。其次,在现代汉语中,介词性的“在”同动词“在”既存在着相容的语法和语义特征,也存在着和动词“在”相对立的语法特征。而决定其独立性的特征是后者。依据这些方法,本文把介词“在”同动词“在”不相容的语法特征作为鉴定标准,证明上古汉语时期的“在”只是一个动词,它同介词“于”处于对立的位置,还没有产生介词的用法。汉语介词“在”的用法最早出现在东汉中后期。