Many grammar books describe the use of verb (V)+ 着 zhe as the continuous aspect, but I have divided the usages into the following five categories.
1. V+ 着 zhe can be used to describe how an object has been left in a place in a certain position. For instance,
书 在 桌 子 上 放 着
shū zài zhuōzi shàng
fàngzhe.
The book is on the table.
This implies that the book has been 放 fàng put on the table by someone.
门 开 着
mén kāizhe
The door is open .
This implies that the door has been left 开 kāi open by someone.
在 墙 上 挂 着 一 张 画
zàiqiángshàng guàzhe yì zhāng huà
There is a picture hanging on the wall.
This sentence implies that a picture has been 挂 guà hung on the wall by someone.
2. However, if an action is carried out by the subject of a sentence, the V + 着 zhe pattern implies that an action is in progress. For instance, if you see a friend of yours standing there, you might say:
别 站 着 。快 坐 下
bié zhànzhe. kuài
zuòxia
Don’t stand there. Quickly sit down!
You might describe a group a students sitting in a classroom in the following way:
学 生 们 都 在 教 室 里 坐 着
xuéshengmen dōu zài jiàoshì lĭ zuò
zhe
The students are sitting in the classroom.
The meaning of this sentence is similar to the form of its progressive aspect
学 生 们 都 正 在 教 室 里坐 着 呢
xuéshēngmen dōu zhèng zài
jiàoshì lĭ zuò zhe ne
As you might have noticed that there is no object after the verb 坐 zuò sit , but instead the verb is followed by the particle 着 zhe . Another difference between the above sentence and the sentence pattern of the progressive aspect is that the word 在 zài here is a co-verb which means to be in (classroom) and it is not part of the elements that are used in the progressive aspect.
3. V + 着 zhe can also be used to describe how an action is carried out with another action. For instance,
小 学 生 唱 着 歌 去 学 校
xiăoxuéshēng chàngzhe kē qù
xuéxiào
The primary school children go to school singing.
The phrase 唱着歌 chàngzhe kē singing describes the way that the primary school children go to school.
他 吸着 烟 看 书
tā xīzhe yān kàn shū
He reads while he is smoking.
The phrase while he is smoking describes the way that he reads.
The stative verb 忙 máng can be followed by particle 着 zhe to describe other actions as demonstrated below.
他 忙 着 准 备 考 试 呢
tā mángzhe zhŭnbèi kăoshì
ne
He is busy preparing the exams.
他 忙 着 谈 恋 爱 呢
tā mángzhe tán liàn ài
ne
He is busy being in love.
There are other verbs that can be used like 忙 máng such as 吵闹着
孩子们 吵 ( 闹 ) 着 要 我 带 他们 去 公 园 玩
háizimen chăo(
nào) zhe yào wǒ dài tāmen qù
gōngyuánwán
The children are nagging me to take them to the parks.
4. The expression of V+ 着 zhe has a commanding tone. It is used to demand that a listener to carry out an action continuously. The only verbs that can be used in these expressions are some of the monosyllabic ones. For instance,
等 着 站 着
děngzhe zhànzhe
Wait! (Don’t go away.) Stand up! (Don’t sit down.)
记 着 坐 着
jì zhe
zuòzhe
Remember! (Don’t forget.) Sit! (Don’t stand up or move about.)
看 着
kānzhe
Watch it ! (Don’t lose your concentration)
5. A stative verb can precede 着呢 zhene to describe excessiveness. The expression is placed at the end of a sentence. For instance,
中 国 的 夏 天 热着呢 他的 钱 多 着 呢
zhōngguó de xiàtiān
rèzhene tā de
qián duōzhene
The summer in China is extremely hot. He has got plenty of money.
我 每 天 都 忙 着 呢
wǒ měi tiān dōu máng zhe
ne
I am busy everyday
If you have any questions about the above explanation, please click here to ask.
Translate the following sentences into Chinese (The use of the particle 着 36)
The students are sitting in the classroom.
There are three books on the table. (Use 放 fàng to put)
There is a map of China hanging (挂guà) in the reading room.
We are walking to the library.
The library door is open (开kāi).
I'm busy cooking the meal for tonight.
Don't smoke while you are reading!