How to Say “Under These Circumstances” with 在…下 (zài … xià)
在…下 (zài … xià) is a fronted frame meaning “under (a condition / circumstance)”: 在 + Condition + 下，then the main clause. 在这种情况下 (“under these circumstances”), 在大家的帮助下 (“with everyone's help”), 在很大的压力下 (“under great pressure”). The condition is an abstract noun (情况, 条件, 帮助, 压力), not a physical thing, and the 在…下 wrapper goes at the front, before what it affects.
Why this trips learners up
You already know 在 for location (在家, “at home”). 在…下 (zài … xià) puts that 在 to abstract work: it's a fronted frame meaning “under (a condition or circumstance),” and it sets up the situation that affects whatever you say next. The shape is 在 + Condition + 下，主句: 在这种情况下，你会怎么做？ (“under these circumstances, what would you do?”), 在紧急情况下，请走安全出口 (“in an emergency, take the safety exit”).
The two words wrap the condition, the way a circumposition does: 在 opens it and 下 closes it, with the condition noun in the middle. You can't drop the 下, 在这种情况下 is complete, but 在这种情况 on its own is not. And the whole 在…下 phrase comes at the front, before the subject and main clause, framing everything that follows.
A very common sub-pattern is 在…的帮助 / 支持 / 建议 / 影响 / 领导 下, which English renders as “with / through / on”: 在大家的帮助下 (“with everyone's help”), 在父母的支持下 (“with my parents' support”), 在医生的建议下 (“on the doctor's advice”). Keep the 的 when there's a possessor: it's 在老师的帮助下, not 在老师帮助下.
One thing to keep straight: the 下 here is abstract, a condition, not a physical position. For something literally underneath an object, you use 在…下面 or 在…底下: 猫在桌子下面 (“the cat is under the table”). And don't mix this up with its sister frame 在…上, which marks a topic (“on the subject of”) rather than a condition, more on that on the 在…上 / 在…方面 page.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zài 在 Pattern zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng 这种情况 Other xià 下 Pattern nǐ ，你 Subject huì 会 Function word zěnme 怎么 Question zuò 做 Verb
Under these circumstances, what would you do? (在这种情况下, the most common form).
zài 在 Pattern zhèyàng de huánjìng 这样的环境 Other xià 下 Pattern háizi ，孩子 Subject hěn nán 很难 Adverb zhuānxīn 专心 Adverb xuéxí 学习 Verb
In this kind of environment, it's hard for a child to concentrate (在…环境下).
zài 在 Pattern dàjiā de bāngzhù 大家的帮助 Other xià 下 Pattern wǒmen ，我们 Subject hěn kuài jiù 很快就 Adverb bān wán le jiā 搬完了家 Verb
With everyone's help, we finished the move quickly (在…的帮助下).
zài 在 Pattern fùmǔ de zhīchí 父母的支持 Other xià 下 Pattern tā ，她 Subject juédìng 决定 Verb qù guówài liúxué 去国外留学 Verb
With her parents' support, she decided to study abroad (在…的支持下).
zài 在 Pattern jǐnjí qíngkuàng 紧急情况 Other xià 下 Pattern qǐng ，请 Other zǒu 走 Verb ānquán chūkǒu 安全出口 Object
In an emergency, please use the safety exit (在紧急情况下, a fixed phrase).
zài 在 Pattern zhème dà de yālì 这么大的压力 Other xià 下 Pattern tā ，他 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb wánchéng le rènwù 完成了任务 Verb
Under such great pressure, he still finished the task (在…压力下 + 还是).
zài 在 Pattern yīshēng de jiànyì 医生的建议 Other xià 下 Pattern tā ，他 Subject kāishǐ 开始 Verb měitiān duànliàn 每天锻炼 Verb
On the doctor's advice, he started exercising every day (在…的建议下).
zài 在 Pattern nàme kùnnan de tiáojiàn 那么困难的条件 Other xià 下 Pattern tā ，她 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb jiānchí 坚持 Verb ràng háizi men shàngxué 让孩子们上学 Verb
Under such difficult conditions, she still insisted the children stay in school (在…条件下).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 在…下 is a wrapper: you need both halves. “Under these circumstances” is 在这种情况下, not 在这种情况; without the closing 下 the frame is unfinished. Always close it: 在 + condition + 下.
Why it happens: When the condition has a possessor (someone's help, support, advice), keep the 的: 在老师的帮助下, not 在老师帮助下. The pattern is 在 + [possessor 的 noun] + 下, so 在大家的帮助下, 在父母的支持下.
Why it happens: 下 frames a condition; for “on the topic of” you need 上, not 下. “Grammatically there's no problem” is 在语法上没问题, not 在语法下没问题. Use 下 for circumstances (在这种情况下) and 上 for topics (在这个问题上).
Compare & contrast
| 在…下: under a condition (abstract) | 在…下面: under something (physical) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 在这种情况下zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià = “under these circumstances” (abstract) | 在桌子下面zài zhuōzi xiàmiàn = “under the table” (physical) | 在这种情况下 = “under these circumstances,” an abstract condition framing what follows. 在桌子下面 = “under the table,” a literal physical position. Abstract 下 takes a condition noun; physical 下面 takes a thing. |
| 在压力下zài yālì xià = “under pressure” (a condition) | 在床下面zài chuáng xiàmiàn = “under the bed” (a place) | 在压力下 = “under pressure” (a state you're acting in). 在床下面 = “under the bed” (a place). If it's a circumstance, use 下; if it's a spot underneath an object, use 下面 / 底下. |
Try it yourself
Say “Under these circumstances, we should stay calm.” Front the 在…下 frame.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Under These Circumstances” with 在…下 (zài … xià) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.