着
aspect particle (continuous state)
zhe
What does 着 mean?
着 (zhe) is the durative aspect particle that attaches to a verb to mark a continuous, ongoing state — the result of an action that is still in effect. Where English uses '-ing' for actions in progress, Chinese makes a key distinction: 正在 marks an action being PERFORMED (我正在吃饭 'I'm eating'), while 着 marks an action's continuing STATE (门开着 'the door is open / standing open'). Common patterns: V + 着 ('holding,' 'wearing,' 'lying' — states caused by an earlier action); V₁ 着 V₂ ('do V₂ while V₁-ing,' as in 站着说话 'speak while standing'); V + 着 in commands softens them (听着！ 'Listen!'). The character 着 has multiple readings — zhāo, zháo, zhuó — but as the aspect particle it is ALWAYS neutral-tone zhe.
Note: Grammatical particle used freely in speech and writing. Always neutral tone (zhe), never zháo or zhāo when used as the aspect marker.
Character breakdown
particle marking continuous state; (other readings: zháo, zhāo, zhuó in different words)
Memory hook: Think of 着 as a freeze-frame button: it pauses the verb and holds the resulting state in place.
Example sentences
他手里拿着一本书。
Tā shǒu lǐ názhe yì běn shū.
He's holding a book in his hand.
neutral
门开着，请进。
Mén kāizhe, qǐng jìn.
The door is open, please come in.
spoken
我喜欢站着吃饭。
Wǒ xǐhuan zhànzhe chīfàn.
I like to eat standing up.
spoken
她穿着一件红色的大衣。
Tā chuānzhe yí jiàn hóngsè de dàyī.
She is wearing a red coat.
neutral
听着！我有事告诉你。
Tīngzhe! Wǒ yǒu shì gàosu nǐ.
Listen up! I have something to tell you.
spoken
Common phrases with 着
Synonyms
正在 marks an action in progress ('right now doing'); 着 marks a continuing state ('in a state of'). 他正在穿衣服 = 'he's putting on clothes (right now)'; 他穿着红衣服 = 'he is wearing red clothes (state).' English 'is doing' covers both, Chinese splits them.
When used as an aspect marker (我在吃饭), 在 is essentially the short form of 正在 — it marks the ongoing action. 着 marks the result/state, not the action itself.
Don't confuse 着 with
In 着急 ('to be anxious/in a hurry'), 着 is read zháo, not zhe. Different word entirely — same character, different reading and meaning.
了 marks completion or change of state ('it happened / it's done'). 着 marks an ongoing state. 门开了 = 'the door opened (completion)'; 门开着 = 'the door is (standing) open.'
正在 + verb = action in progress. Verb + 着 = the resulting state. They often translate the same in English but answer different questions: 'What is he doing?' vs 'What state is he in?'