Continuous State with '着' — Mandarin Grammar

The particle (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) is an aspect marker placed immediately after a verb. It indicates that an action is continuing or that a state persists. While it is often translated as the English suffix -ing, it functions differently from the progressive marker (zàiㄗㄞˋtsai4).

Continuous State vs. Progressive Action

To understand (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê), it is helpful to compare it with (zàiㄗㄞˋtsai4).

(zàiㄗㄞˋtsai4) + Verb focuses on the process of the action happening right now (Progressive Aspect).
Verb + (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) focuses on the state resulting from the action (Continuous Aspect).

Think of the difference between "putting on a coat" (action) and "wearing a coat" (state).

他在穿大衣。
tā zài chuān dà·yī.ㄊㄚㄗㄞˋ ㄔㄨㄢㄉㄚˋ·ㄧ.t'a1 tsai4 ch'uan1 ta4·yi1.
He is putting on a coat. (Action in progress)
他穿着大衣。
tā chuān·zhe dà·yī.ㄊㄚㄔㄨㄢ·˙ㄓㄜㄉㄚˋ·ㄧ.t'a1 ch'uan1·chê ta4·yi1.
He is wearing a coat. (State of being dressed)

This distinction is particularly common with verbs related to body posture or placement.

请坐。
qǐng zuò.ㄑㄧㄥˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ.ch'ing3 tso4.
Please sit down. (The action of sitting)
他坐着。
tā zuò·zhe.ㄊㄚㄗㄨㄛˋ·˙ㄓㄜ.t'a1 tso4·chê.
He is sitting. (The state of being seated)

Describing Static States

(zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) is frequently used to describe the state of inanimate objects or the environment. In these cases, the action has already occurred, but the result of that action remains.

门开着。
mén kāi·zhe.ㄇㄣˊ ㄎㄞ·˙ㄓㄜ.mên2 k'ai1·chê.
The door is open. (It was opened and remains open)
灯亮着。
dēng liàng·zhe.ㄉㄥㄌㄧㄤˋ·˙ㄓㄜ.têng1 liang4·chê.
The light is on. (It is shining)

Two Actions Occurring Simultaneously

Another common use of (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) is to connect two verbs. When used in the structure Verb 1 + (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) + Verb 2, the first verb describes the manner or state in which the second verb is performed. It answers the question "how" or "in what state" the main action is happening.

Here, the first verb is the accompanying state, and the second verb is the main action.

不要站着吃饭。
bù·yào zhàn·zhe chī fàn.ㄅㄨˋ·ㄧㄠˋ ㄓㄢˋ·˙ㄓㄜㄔㄈㄢˋ.pu4·yao4 chan4·chê ch'ih1 fan4.
Don't eat while standing. (Literally: Don't standing-ly eat)
她笑着说再见。
tā xiào·zhe shuō zài·jiàn.ㄊㄚㄒㄧㄠˋ·˙ㄓㄜㄕㄨㄛㄗㄞˋ·ㄐㄧㄢˋ.t'a1 shiao4·chê sho1 tsai4·chien4.
She said goodbye with a smile. (Literally: She smiling-ly said goodbye)
我们走着去吧。
wǒ·men zǒu·zhe qù ba.ㄨㄛˇ·˙ㄇㄣㄗㄡˇ·˙ㄓㄜㄑㄩˋ ˙ㄅㄚ.wo3·mên tsou3·chê ch'ü4 pa.
Let's go on foot. (Literally: Let's walking-ly go)

Existence and Location

(zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) is also used in "existence sentences" to describe what exists at a specific location. The structure is usually: Location + Verb + (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) + Object. This implies that an object has been placed somewhere and is currently sitting there.

桌子上放着一本书。
zhuō·zi shàng fàng·zhe yī běn shū.ㄓㄨㄛ·˙ㄗㄕㄤˋ ㄈㄤˋ·˙ㄓㄜㄧㄅㄣˇ ㄕㄨ.cho1·tsŭ shang4 fang4·chê yi1 pên3 shu1.
There is a book lying on the table.
墙上挂着一张地图。
qiáng shàng guà·zhe yī zhāng dì·tú.ㄑㄧㄤˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄍㄨㄚˋ·˙ㄓㄜㄧㄓㄤㄉㄧˋ·ㄊㄨˊ.ch'iang2 shang4 kua4·chê yi1 chang1 ti4·t'u2.
There is a map hanging on the wall.

Negation

To negate a sentence with (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê), use (méiㄇㄟˊmei2) or (méi·yǒuㄇㄟˊ·ㄧㄡˇmei2·yu3) before the verb. Note that (zhe˙ㄓㄜchê) remains in the sentence even when negated.

门没开着。
mén méi kāi·zhe.ㄇㄣˊ ㄇㄟˊ ㄎㄞ·˙ㄓㄜ.mên2 mei2 k'ai1·chê.
The door is not open.
他没戴着眼镜。
tā méi dài·zhe yǎn·jìng.ㄊㄚㄇㄟˊ ㄉㄞˋ·˙ㄓㄜㄧㄢˇ·ㄐㄧㄥˋ.t'a1 mei2 tai4·chê yen3·ching4.
He is not wearing glasses.

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