着How to Use 着 (zhe) for Ongoing States

Verb + 着: a state that lasts

Subject + verb + 着 (+ object).

着 goes right after the verb, before the object. It does not describe the action itself but the state it leaves behind and that is still there: 开 is to open or switch on, and 开着 means it is open or on. You will often hear 呢 at the end of the sentence as well.

1. 门开着。Mén kāi zhe.The door is open.
2. 电视还开着呢。Diànshì hái kāi zhe ne.The TV is still on.
3. 她手里拿着一个手机。Tā shǒu li ná zhe yí ge shǒujī.She's holding a phone.
4. 他穿着一件红色的衣服。Tā chuān zhe yí jiàn hóngsè de yīfu.He's wearing a red top.

Doing something in a certain way

Verb 1 + 着 + verb 2. The first verb with 着 tells you how or in what state the main action is done: smiling while you speak, sitting while you watch, going on foot. The main action is the second verb, so 着 goes on the first one.

1. 他笑着说：“没关系。”Tā xiào zhe shuō: "Méi guānxi."He said with a smile, "It doesn't matter."
2. 奶奶喜欢坐着看电视。Nǎinai xǐhuan zuò zhe kàn diànshì.Grandma likes to watch TV sitting down.
3. 我们走着去吧，不远。Wǒmen zǒu zhe qù ba, bù yuǎn.Let's walk there. It isn't far.

Describing a scene

Place + verb + 着 + what is there. This is a common way to say what is somewhere and in what state, a bit like "there is someone standing at the door" in English. The place comes first, and the person or thing comes after the verb.

1. 门口站着一个人。Ménkǒu zhàn zhe yí ge rén.There's someone standing at the door.
2. 教室里坐着很多学生。Jiàoshì li zuò zhe hěn duō xuésheng.There are lots of students sitting in the classroom.
3. 本子上写着我的名字。Běnzi shang xiě zhe wǒ de míngzi.My name is written on the notebook.

着 or 在?

在 before a verb says that an action is going on now: 他在穿衣服 means he is getting dressed. 着 after a verb says that the result of the action is still there: 他穿着新衣服 means he has new clothes on. To simply say what someone is doing at the moment, use 在, not 着.

A few actions, such as rain falling, can take 着 for something that is going on, often with 呢: 外面下着雨呢. Note also that 着 is read zháo in some words, for example 睡着 (shuìzháo, to fall asleep).

1. 他在穿衣服呢。Tā zài chuān yīfu ne.He's getting dressed.
2. 他穿着一件新衣服。Tā chuān zhe yí jiàn xīn yīfu.He's got new clothes on.
3. 外面下着雨呢。Wàimiàn xià zhe yǔ ne.It's raining outside.

Negatives, questions and common mistakes

To say a state is not there, use 没有 before the verb and keep 着: 电视没有开着. Don't use 不 here: 门不开着 is wrong for "the door isn't open". For a question, add 吗 at the end, or ask with 什么.

The most common mistake is putting 着 in the wrong place. It comes straight after the verb and before the object, so say 他穿着红色的衣服, not 他穿红色的衣服着. With two verbs, 着 goes on the first one: 笑着说, not 笑说着.

1. 电视没有开着。Diànshì méiyǒu kāi zhe.The TV isn't on.
2. 门开着吗？Mén kāi zhe ma?Is the door open?
3. 你手里拿着什么？Nǐ shǒu li ná zhe shénme?What are you holding?

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