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[](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
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Aspect particle "zhe"
=====================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGOIDEO)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Expressing actions in progress with
"zai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_with_%22zai%22) (A2)
- [Simultaneous tasks with
"yibian"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simultaneous_tasks_with_%22yibian%22) (A2)
- [Alternative existential
sentences](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Alternative_existential_sentences) (B1)
- [Expressing actions in progress
(full form)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_(full_form)) (B1)
- [Using "zhe" when "verbing
away"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22zhe%22_when_%22verbing_away%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Expressing
duration](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_duration),
[Indicating
conditions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_conditions)
-
Keywords
[着](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%9D%80)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-zhe.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Basic
Usage](#Basic_Usage "wikilink")
- [1.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [1.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [2 Used for
Manner or State in which an Action is
Performed](#Used_for_Manner_or_State_in_which_an_Action_is_Performed "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [3 Used for
Continuous State](#Used_for_Continuous_State "wikilink")
- [3.1
Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink")
- [4 Colloquial
Saying](#Colloquial_Saying "wikilink")
- [5 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [6 Sources and
further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink")
- [6.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
- [6.2
Websites](#Websites "wikilink")
Verb + 着
### Examples
This basic pattern is often used with commands involving certain verbs
where the action persists for a while.
- 我 读 ，你 听 *着* 。Wǒ dú, nǐ tīng
*zhe*.I'll read, 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* ，我 马上 回来 。Nǐmen zuò *zhe*,
wǒ mǎshàng huílái.Sit here. I'll be right
back.
- 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 Manner or State in which an Action is Performed
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### 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.
- 他 笑 *着* 说 “对不起” 。"smiling + say = saying
"I'm sorry" while smilingTā xiào *zhe*
shuō "duìbuqǐ".
- 孩子 抱 *着* 爸爸 哭 了 起来 。"hugging + cry =
crying while huggingHáizi bào *zhe* bàba
kū le qǐlái.
**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
[一边⋯⋯，一边⋯⋯](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simultaneous_tasks_with_%22yibian%22).
Used for Continuous State
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While it's true that the "[full progressive
pattern](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_(full_form))"
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
- 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.The company's door is open
but no one is in there.
- 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.
- 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.She's wearing
a little black dress.
- 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.It makes me most comfortable just
lying there.
- *在* 躺 最 舒服 。"Lying here" is not strictly an
action, so don't use 在.)*Zài* tǎng zuì
shūfu.
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:
- 听 *着* ! "to listen and keep
listening"Tīng *zhe*!
- 别 客气 ，拿 *着* 吧 。"to take and keep
it"Bié kèqi, ná *zhe* ba.
- 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:
Subj. + 是 + 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:
- 你 不要 生气 ，我 是 说 *着* 玩 的 。Nǐ bùyào
shēngqì, wǒ shì shuō *zhe* wán de!Don't
be mad. I was just joking.
- 我 听不懂 英文 歌 ，只 是 听 *着* 玩 的 。Wǒ
tīng bu dǒng Yīngwén gē, zhǐshì tīng *zhe* wán
de.I don't understand English songs. I
listen just for fun.
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Expressing actions in
progress](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress)
- [Expressing actions in progress
(full form)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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)](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)) (pp.
414 - 423)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA)
- [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
Edition](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition) (pp.
89) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2h67UYa)
- [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar) (pp.
217 - 225) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2yOtlXc)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
242-3) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp.
17) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader
2 (新实用汉语课本2)](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)) (pp.
238-9)
[→buy](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)
- [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
(基础汉语40课上册）](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) (pp.
255)
[→buy](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)
### Websites
- About.com: [Mandarin Chinese
Aspect](http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/aspect.htm)
- ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We
Verb](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-how-we-verb)
(free content)
- ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Actions in
Progress](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-actions-in-progress)
(free content)
- ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as
States](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-verbs-as-states)
(free content)
[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories):
- [B1 grammar
points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)
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