gōngsī zhèngzài chǔlǐ shēnqǐng.

The sentence follows the very common Mandarin pattern:

Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object

So here it is:

• 公司 = subject
• 正在 = marks an action in progress
• 处理 = verb
• 申请 = object

In other words, Mandarin keeps the same basic word order as English here:

• The company
  • is currently
    • processing
      • the application

So for an English speaker, the overall structure is quite straightforward.

正在 shows that the action is in progress right now.

It is similar to the English idea of be + -ing, as in:

• is processing
• is handling

So:

• 公司处理申请 = The company processes / is processing applications (more neutral, less explicit about “right now”)
• 公司正在处理申请 = The company is processing the application right now

It adds a strong sense of an ongoing action.

Both can mark an ongoing action, and in many everyday sentences they are very close.

• 公司在处理申请
• 公司正在处理申请

Both can mean The company is processing the application.

The difference is mainly one of emphasis:

• 在 = common, conversational
• 正在 = a bit more explicit or formal; emphasizes that the action is currently underway

You may also hear 正 by itself in some contexts, but 正在 is a very standard full form.

Yes.

公司处理申请 is grammatically fine, but it is less specific about timing.

It could mean something like:

• The company processes applications
• The company handles applications
• The company is processing applications

depending on context.

If you want to clearly say the action is happening right now, 正在 is better.

Because 申请 is the object of the verb 处理.

Mandarin usually puts the object after the verb, just like English:

• 处理申请 = process an application
• 看书 = read a book
• 吃饭 = eat a meal

So 处理申请 is simply verb + object.

Here, 申请 is a noun, meaning application.

That is because it comes after 处理, and 处理 needs something to act on:

• 处理申请 = process an application

But 申请 can also be a verb in other sentences, meaning to apply:

• 我申请了这个工作。 = I applied for this job.

So 申请 is one of those Chinese words whose part of speech depends on context.

Because Mandarin does not use articles like English does.

English requires things like:

• a
• an
• the

Mandarin usually does not.

So 申请 can mean:

• an application
• the application
• applications

depending on context.

If you want to make it more specific, Mandarin uses other methods, for example:

• 这个申请 = this application
• 那个申请 = that application
• 你的申请 = your application

So the lack of the/an is completely normal.

Usually, you know from context.

In Mandarin, nouns often do not change form for singular vs. plural the way they do in English.

So 申请 could mean:

• an application
• the application
• applications

depending on the situation.

If the speaker wants to make plurality clearer, they might say:

• 一个申请 = one application
• 多个申请 = multiple applications
• 这些申请 = these applications

In your sentence, 申请 is neutral by itself.

Usually, not in the same way.

正在 focuses on an action that is ongoing, while 了 often marks a completed action or a new situation. Because of that, beginners generally learn them as doing different jobs.

Compare:

• 公司正在处理申请。 = The company is processing the application.
• 公司处理了申请。 = The company processed the application.

The first is ongoing. The second is completed.

So if your main goal is to say it is happening right now, 正在 is the natural choice.

Yes, this is a good pronunciation question.

处理 is written chǔlǐ, which is third tone + third tone.

In natural speech, when two third tones come together, the first one usually changes to a rising tone in pronunciation. So it is commonly pronounced more like:

• chúlǐ

This is called third-tone sandhi.

So:

• written tone marks: chǔlǐ
• actual common pronunciation: chúlǐ

This is normal and important to get used to.

Yes, 公司 means company.

It does not need a measure word here because it is just the subject of the sentence, not something being counted.

You only need a measure word when you are counting or specifying with a number/demonstrative, for example:

• 一家公司 = one company
• 那家公司 = that company

But in your sentence, 公司 stands alone as the subject, so no measure word is needed.

It sounds fairly neutral and natural, and a bit more formal than casual speech because of 正在 and 处理.

For example:

• 公司正在处理申请。 = neutral/formal, common in customer-service or business contexts

A more conversational version might be:

• 公司在处理你的申请。 = The company is processing your application.

So the sentence is perfectly normal, especially in written communication, business communication, or status updates.