HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
着: a continuing state
着 after a verb shows a state that continues: 门开着, 他坐着看书.
Structure
- Verb + 着
- Place + verb + 着 + thing
- Verb1 + 着 + verb2
How it works
着 shows that the result of an action continues: 门开着 the door is open, 他穿着红色的衣服 he is wearing red.
To describe what is in a place: place + verb + 着 + thing: 桌子上放着一本书.
Verb1 + 着 + verb2 shows one action done in a certain way: 他坐着看书 he reads sitting down.
For an action in progress (“-ing”), 在 is more common: 他在看书.
Examples
-
门开着，你进来吧。
Mén kāi zhe, nǐ jìnlái ba.
The door is open, come in.
-
她穿着一件白色的衣服。
Tā chuān zhe yí jiàn báisè de yīfu.
She’s wearing white clothes.
-
桌子上放着一张地图。
Zhuōzi shàng fàng zhe yì Zhāng dìtú.
There’s a map lying on the table.
-
他喜欢站着工作。
Tā xǐhuan zhàn zhe gōngzuò.
He likes to work standing up.
-
外面下着雨呢。
Wàimiàn xià zhe yǔ ne.
It’s raining outside.
Words in these examples (26)
| 门 | mén | door; gate | HSK 2 |
| 开 | kāi | to open; to drive; to switch on | HSK 1 |
| 着 | zhe | (particle after a verb: in a state of, as in 坐着) | HSK 2 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in | HSK 2 |
| 吧 | ba | (particle for suggestions: "let's…", "…, OK?") | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 穿 | chuān | to wear; to put on (clothes) | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes, matters, items) | HSK 1 |
| 白色 | báisè | white | HSK 2 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 1 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table; desk | HSK 1 |
| 上 | shàng | up; on; above; to go up; to get on; previous | HSK 1 |
| 放 | fàng | to put; to place | HSK 3 |
| 张 | zhāng | (measure word for flat things: paper, tables, tickets); to open | HSK 3 |
| 地图 | dìtú | map | HSK 3 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 站 | zhàn | station; stop | HSK 2 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job; work | HSK 1 |
| 外面 | wàimiàn | outside | HSK 2 |
| 下 | xià | down; below; to go down; to get off; next | HSK 1 |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | HSK 1 |
| 呢 | ne | (particle: "what about…?"; also marks an ongoing state) | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我着看书。
✓我在看书。
着 follows the verb; for “-ing”, use 在 before it.
-
✗桌子上有放着一本书。
✓桌子上放着一本书。
Place + verb + 着 + thing, without 有.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他手里拿 一个杯子。
2. 我们坐 聊天儿吧。
3. 门开 呢，没关。