在……下
under …; with (someone’s) help, encouragement or direction
Structure
在 + （谁的） + 名词 + 下 ， 主语 + 动词 ……
What it means
Says under what conditions, or with whose help, guidance or encouragement, something happens: “with everyone’s help”, “under the teacher’s guidance”.
How it is built
在 + (someone’s) + noun + 下，subject + verb: 在大家的帮助下，大爷很快找到了儿子 (With everyone’s help, the old man soon found his son). The noun is often 帮助、鼓励、支持、指导、指挥、引导.
When to use it
It sounds a little formal, so you meet it in speeches, news and writing. Don’t mix it up with 在……上 “as far as … goes” (在学习上, h4-6): help and conditions take 下.
Watch out
It goes before the verb, never at the end as in English: ✗ 我们完成了任务在大家的帮助下 ✓ 在大家的帮助下，我们完成了任务。 Don’t use 用 or 跟: ✗ 用大家的帮助.
Examples
在大家的帮助下，大爷很快找到了儿子。
With everyone’s help, the old man soon found his son.
在李月的鼓励下，我报名当了志愿者。
Encouraged by Li Yue, I signed up as a volunteer.
在老师的指导下，他的汉语进步得很快。
Under his teacher’s guidance, his Chinese improved quickly.
在这样的情况下，比赛只好推迟了。
Under these circumstances, the race had to be put off.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 27: 当志愿者 (Volunteering)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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