Verb + 着
Stick 着 (zhe) right after a verb to freeze the action into an ongoing state — somebody is doing it, or the result is still hanging there. '坐着' = sitting (in a seated state). '开着' = (the door is) open. '拿着书' = holding a book. Use it whenever English would say 'is V-ing' as a backdrop rather than a fresh event, or for posture/state verbs (站, 坐, 躺, 穿, 戴, 拿, 开, 关).
Structure
[VERB] 着 [(OBJECT)]
[VERB] zhe
How to Think About It
着 is a freeze-frame on the action. 在 + verb is the live camera ('he is currently writing'), but verb + 着 is the still photo ('he sits there, book held in hand'). That's why 着 loves background scenery — a second verb usually follows: '他坐着看书' (he reads while sitting). One action sets the stage (V+着), the other is what's actually happening.
Examples
他坐着看书。
Tā zuò zhe kàn shū.
He's reading while sitting.
门开着, 请进。
Mén kāi zhe, qǐng jìn.
The door is open, please come in.
她穿着一件红色的裙子。
Tā chuān zhe yī jiàn hóngsè de qúnzi.
She's wearing a red dress.
Common Mistake
Learners use 着 like English '-ing' for any ongoing action and end up saying things like '我着吃饭' or '我吃着饭呢' for plain 'I'm eating'. For a simple in-progress action, use 在 + verb. Save 着 for posture, state, or when it's the backdrop to another verb.
我吃着饭。
我在吃饭。
Don't Confuse With
在 + Verb
在 is the live action ('he IS eating right now'). 着 is the held state or backdrop ('he sits eating' — sitting is the state, eating is the foreground).
Verb + 了
了 marks completion or a new state arriving. 着 marks an ongoing state already in place. '门开了' = the door opened. '门开着' = the door is (standing) open.
Verb + 过
过 marks past experience ('have done before'). Completely different from the held-state meaning of 着.
Practice
他站 ___ 等公共汽车。
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着
妈妈拿 ___ 一个苹果。
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着
Put in order: [听 / 着 / 音乐 / 我 / 工作]
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我听着音乐工作。
Translate to Chinese: 'He is lying on the bed reading.'
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他躺着看书。
Write one sentence describing two things happening at once, using Verb + 着.
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Example answer: 她笑着跟我打招呼。 (She greeted me with a smile.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes: