The particle 着 (zhe) is one way of indicating the ''continuous aspect'' in Mandarin Chinese (another common way is [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress using the adverb 在 in front of verbs]). You may have heard that the Chinese particle 着 added onto the end of verbs is similar to the use of ''-ing'' in English. This isn't particularly helpful, however, because the use of 着 in Chinese is not nearly so frequent and can also be quite idiomatic. == Basic Usage == The idea here is that the action won't just happen and stop immediately; it will continue for a while. === Structure === === Examples === This basic pattern is often used with commands involving certain verbs where the action persists for a while. == Used for Manner or State in which an Action is Performed == === Structure === Note that the '''first verb''' (followed by 着) describes the '''state'''; the second verb is the action verb. In this case, the "-ing" translation can be useful. === Examples === '''Note:''' If you want to make a sentence where both verbs are action verbs (neither is truly a state), then you don't want this pattern; you want [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simultaneous_tasks_with_%22yibian%22 一边⋯⋯，一边⋯⋯]. == Used for Continuous State == While it's true that the "[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_(full_form) full progressive pattern]" can make use of 着, this is not a pattern you're going to want to use all the time. The most commonly used verbs are the ones below: * 开 (kāi) alone can mean "to open" or "to turn on." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is open" or "is on." * 关 (guān) alone can mean "to close" or "to turn off." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is closed" or "is off." * 穿 (chuān) alone means "to wear." Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" or "has" something (on one's person). * 戴 (dài) alone means "to wear." Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" or "has" something (on one's person). * 躺 (tǎng) alone means "to lie on one's back." Adding 着 allows one to express that someone "is lying down." === Examples === == Colloquial Saying == Certain verbs tend to take 着 more frequently than others, and what the 着 exactly is ''doing'' might not be apparent at all. It's best to think of these usages as colloquialisms. You can even think of them as set phrases. Examples of this usage: There's also one colloquial usage of 着 that's been chosen by at least one textbook for special treatment, so we'll cover it here as well: This pattern may look like that "doing an action in a particular state" pattern already covered above, but in practice it doesn't really work that way. It just means "[Verb] for fun" or "[Verb] as a joke." Examples of this usage: == See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress Expressing actions in progress] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_(full_form) Expressing actions in progress (full form)] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95) A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)] (pp. 414 - 423) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition] (pp. 89) [http://amzn.to/2h67UYa →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar] (pp. 217 - 225) [http://amzn.to/2yOtlXc →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)] (pp. 242-3) [http://amzn.to/2femBuy →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2] (pp. 17) [http://amzn.to/2ftpILV →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2) New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)] (pp. 238-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8A%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）] (pp. 255) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy] === Websites === * About.com: [http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/aspect.htm Mandarin Chinese Aspect] * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-how-we-verb Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We Verb] (free content) * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-actions-in-progress Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Actions in Progress] (free content) * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-verbs-as-states Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as States] (free content)