V着也是V着 Unused Ongoing State in Chinese
X着也是X着
X着也是X着 notes that something is already remaining in an idle, unused, or continuing state, then treats that state as a reason to make practical use of it. It is not a general progressive marker: the repeated state normally carries an implication of waste, availability, or no better alternative.
Published August 15, 2026
Reviewed August 15, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb/State + 着 + 也是 + Same Verb/State + 着，Suggestion
Read the structure
X着也是X着 notes that something is already remaining in an idle, unused, or continuing state, then treats that state as a reason to make practical use of it. It is not a general progressive marker: the repeated state normally carries an implication of waste, availability, or no better alternative. Keep the model Verb/State + 着 + 也是 + Same Verb/State + 着，Suggestion visible while you compare each sentence.
这间房空着也是空着，不如借给他们用。
The room is sitting empty anyway, so we might as well let them use it.
Choose the right context
Point out that an available thing is sitting unused. Turn an existing state into a reason for practical action. Repeat the same state on both sides of 也是.
这辆车放着也是放着，周末开出去吧。
The car is just sitting there, so let's drive it this weekend.
Respect the boundary
Do not use it as a neutral description of every ongoing action. Do not omit 着 from one half of the fixed frame. Do not use different states in the two repeated slots.
这辆车放也是放着，不如开出去。
(The car put is also sitting, better drive it out.)
Repair the pattern
着 is missing from the first copy: Both copies describe the same continuing state and therefore retain 着 in this fixed frame. 也是 is split and reordered: 也是 forms one unit before the repeated state; reversing 是 and the second copy breaks the construction.
这辆车放着也是放着，不如开出去。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这间房空着也是空着，不如借给他们用。
The room is sitting empty anyway, so we might as well let them use it.
这间
Verb/State
This part occupies the Verb/State position in the model pattern.
房
着
This part occupies the 着 position in the model pattern.
空着
也是
This part occupies the 也是 position in the model pattern.
也是
Same Verb/State
This part occupies the Same Verb/State position in the model pattern.
空着
着，Suggestion
This part occupies the 着，Suggestion position in the model pattern.
，
Verb/State
This part occupies the Verb/State position in the model pattern.
不如
着
This part occupies the 着 position in the model pattern.
借给
也是
This part occupies the 也是 position in the model pattern.
他们
Same Verb/State
This part occupies the Same Verb/State position in the model pattern.
用
着，Suggestion
This part occupies the 着，Suggestion position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这间房空着也是空着，不如借给他们用。
The room is sitting empty anyway, so we might as well let them use it.
这辆车放着也是放着，周末开出去吧。
The car is just sitting there, so let's drive it this weekend.
电脑闲着也是闲着，可以借给小王。
The computer is idle anyway, so it can be lent to Xiao Wang.
灯开着也是开着，大家就在这里看书吧。
The light is on anyway, so let's read here.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Point out that an available thing is sitting unused.
- Turn an existing state into a reason for practical action.
- Repeat the same state on both sides of 也是.
Do not use it when
- Do not use it as a neutral description of every ongoing action.
- Do not omit 着 from one half of the fixed frame.
- Do not use different states in the two repeated slots.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这辆车放也是放着，不如开出去。
这辆车放着也是放着，不如开出去。
着 is missing from the first copy
Both copies describe the same continuing state and therefore retain 着 in this fixed frame.
电脑闲着也闲着是，可以借给小王。
电脑闲着也是闲着，可以借给小王。
也是 is split and reordered
也是 forms one unit before the repeated state; reversing 是 and the second copy breaks the construction.
这辆车放也是放着，不如开出去。
Both copies describe the same continuing state and therefore retain 着 in this fixed frame.
电脑闲着也闲着是，可以借给小王。
也是 forms one unit before the repeated state; reversing 是 and the second copy breaks the construction.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with X着也是X着.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with X着也是X着. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
V着也是V着 Unused Ongoing State Questions
Is this just the particle 着?
No. 着 marks the continuing state, but the full repeated frame evaluates that state as unused or available and motivates a practical next step.
Must 不如 follow?
No. 不如 is common because the frame often supports a suggestion, but 可以, 就, or another contextually suitable continuation can introduce the response.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五63】, PDF p. 232 (printed p. 226)
Lists X着也是X着 at Level 5 with examples that turn an idle existing state into a reason for use.
Official source现代汉语构式数据库
北京大学中国语言学研究中心 · Peking University · 2021
Locator: Construction detail 2150, V着也是V着, lines 10-104
Defines the construction as noting an idle or wasteful continuing state and recommending that the available situation be used.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Learn first
着The Particle 着 (zhe)
Review continuing states marked by 着 before interpreting their evaluative repetition here.
Easy to confuse
放着X不Y放着X不Y
Both evaluate an available unused state, but only this frame repeats the state around 也是.
Compare
反正反正 for an Outcome Unchanged by Alternatives
Compare accepting an already available state with dismissing alternatives through the discourse marker 反正.
Continue learning
A 不如 B……不如: Not as...as
Continue to 不如 when the unused-state observation motivates a practical better option.
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Compare
Compare accepting an already available state with dismissing alternatives through the discourse marker 反正.