{{Grammar Box}}
The particle 着 (zhe) is one way of indicating the ''continuous aspect'' in Mandarin Chinese (another common way is [[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 ==
=== Structure ===
Verb + 着
=== Examples ===
*我 读 ，你 听 着 。Wǒ dú, nǐ tīng zhe.I'll read the letter, and you will listen.
*我们 做 ，你们 看 着 。Wǒmen zuò, nǐmen kàn zhe.We will do it, and you will watch.
*你们 坐 着 ，哪儿 都 别 去 。Nǐmen zuò zhe, nǎr dōu bié qù.You sit here. Don't go anywhere else.
*我 出去 一下 ，你 帮 我 看 着 行李 。Wǒ chūqù yīxià, nǐ bāng wǒ kān zhe xíngli.I'll go out for a second, and you watch the luggage for me.
== Used for Continuous State ==
While it's true that the "[[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 ===
- 家里 的 灯 开 着 。"Being on" is a state, so using 着 is natural.Jiālǐ de dēng kāi zhe.
- 家里 灯 在 开 。"Being on" is not an action, so don't use 在.Jiālǐ de dēng zài kāi.
- 公司 的 门 开 着 ，可是 没 人 在 。"Being on" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)Gōngsī de mén kāi zhe, kěshì méi rén zài.
- 公司 的 门 在 开 ，可是 没 人 在 。"Being open" is not an action, so don't use 在.)Gōngsī de mén zài kāi, kěshì méi rén zài.
- 他 戴 着 眼镜 。"Having his glasses (on him)" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)Tā dài zhe yǎnjìng.
- 他 在 戴 眼镜 。"Having his glasses (on him)" is not an action, so don't use 在.)Tā zài dài yǎnjìng.
- 她 穿 着 一 条 小 黑 裙 。"Be wearing" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)Tā chuān zhe yī tiáo xiǎo hēi qún.
- 她 在 穿 一 条 小 黑 裙 。"Be wearing" is not an action, so don't use 在.)Tā zài chuān yī tiáo xiǎo hēi qún.
- 躺 着 最 舒服 。"Lying here" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)Tǎng zhe zuì shūfu.
- 在 躺 最 舒服 。"Lying here" is not strictly an action, so don't use 在.)Zài tǎng zuì shūfu .
== Used for a Certain Way of Doing Things ==
If you do an action [["Verbing away" using "zhe"|''while in a particular state'']], you can make use of this pattern:
=== Structure ===
Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2
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 ===
*她 喜欢 站 着 吃饭 。 "standing + eat = eating while standing"Tā xǐhuan zhàn zhe chīfàn.
*我 不 喜欢 听 着 音乐 做 作业 。 "listening to music + do homework = listening to music while doing homeworkWǒ bù xǐhuan tīng zhe yīnyuè zuò zuòyè.
*他 笑 着 说 “对不起” 。 "smiling + say = saying "I'm sorry" while smilingTā xiào zhe shuō "duìbuqǐ".
'''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 [[Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"|一边⋯⋯，一边⋯⋯]].
== 着 Used Idiomatically ==
Certain verbs tend to take 着 more frequently than others, and exactly what the 着 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 ===
*你 听 着 ! "to listen and keep listening"Nǐ tīng zhe!
*这个 你 拿 着 ! "to hold and keep holding"Zhège nǐ ná zhe!
*你们 等 着 ! "to wait and keeping waiting"Nǐmen děng zhe!
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:
Verb + 着 + 玩 + 的
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:
*我 不 是 认真 的 ，我 是 闹 着 玩 的 。Wǒ bùshì rènzhēn de, wǒ shì nào zhe wá de.I'm not very serious, I like to have a lot of fun.
*我 听不懂 英文 歌 ，只 是 听 着 玩 的 。Wǒ tīng bù dǒng Yīngwén gē, zhǐshì tīng zhe wán de.I don't understand English songs. I just listen for fun.
*你 不要 生气 ，我 是 说 着 玩 的 ！Nǐ bùyào shēngqì, wǒ gāngcái shì shuō zhe wán de!Don't be mad.I was just joking.
==See also==
* [[Expressing actions in progress]]
* [[Expressing actions in progress (full form)]]
== Sources and further reading ==
=== Books ===
* [[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]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 89) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 217 - 225) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 242-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (p. 17) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
* [[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]
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 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)
{{Similar|Expressing actions in progress (full form)}}
{{Similar|Expressing actions in progress}}
{{Similar|"Verbing away" using "zhe"}}
{{Basic Grammar|着|B1|Verb + 着|你 拿 着 。我们 站 着 说话 吧。|grammar point|ASGOIDEO}}
{{Used for|Expressing duration}}
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
{{POS|Particles}}