HSK 2
The Particle 着 (zhe) in Chinese
着 after a verb marks a state that continues — a door that stays open, a light that stays on — or an action held in the background while something else happens. It describes a lasting state, not an action in focus. That progressive "-ing" meaning belongs to 在/正在, so 着 and 在 are not interchangeable.
STRUCTURE
Verb + 着 (ongoing state or manner)
When to use 着 — and when not
Use it when
- Describing a continuing state: 门开着。The door is (staying) open.
- A background posture held while doing something else: 他站着看书。He reads standing up.
- Existence with a state — place + verb + 着 + thing: 桌子上放着一本书。
Don't use it when
- An action in focus on its own — use 在/正在: "I am eating" is 我在吃饭, not 我吃着饭 by itself.
- A completed or one-time action — use 了: 门开了 announces the change, while 门开着 describes the lasting state.
- Quick, momentary verbs that leave no lasting state (到, 死, 完) do not take 着.
Right vs. wrong
门着开。
门开着。
着 placed before the verb
着 attaches after the verb it modifies, marking the resulting state: 开着 (stays open). Putting 着 before the verb is ungrammatical.
墙上在挂一张地图。
墙上挂着一张地图。
Using 在 where an existence state needs 着
A map that hangs there is a lasting state, not an action in progress. Existence sentences (place + verb + 着 + thing) take 着, while 在 would wrongly describe someone in the act of hanging it.
Examples
门开着。
Mén kāi zhe.
The door is open.
他站着看书。
Tā zhàn zhe kàn shū.
He reads standing up.
桌子上放着一本书。
Zhuōzi shàng fàng zhe yì běn shū.
There is a book (lying) on the table.
她笑着说。
Tā xiào zhe shuō.
She said with a smile.
灯还开着。
Dēng hái kāi zhe.
The light is still on.
Common mistakes
门着开。
Mén zhe kāi.
着 goes after the verb to mark the lasting state: 门开着。
墙上在挂一张地图。
Qiáng shàng zài guà yì zhāng dìtú.
A hanging map is a lasting state, so use 着: 墙上挂着一张地图。
他到着学校。
Tā dào zhe xuéxiào.
到 is a momentary verb with no lasting state, so it can't take 着 — use 了: 他到了学校。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 着 sentence and check that grammar point first.
The Particle 着 (zhe) FAQ
What is the difference between 着 and 在/正在?
在/正在 marks an action in progress (我在看电视 — I'm watching TV right now). 着 marks a lasting state or a held posture (开着 — stays open; 站着 — while standing). One is a moving action, the other a held state.
Can 着 and 在 appear together?
Yes, for a state that persists during an ongoing action, but as a beginner keep them separate: use 在 for "-ing" actions and 着 for states like 开着, 拿着, 坐着.
When must I use 着?
For states that continue (门关着), for existence sentences (place + verb + 着 + thing: 桌上放着…), and for one action done while doing another (他听着音乐做饭).