Aspect Particle: 着 (Continuous State)
动态助词：着
Use 着 after a verb to describe an ongoing state or the manner in which an action continues
Place 着 after a verb to indicate that the resulting state of the action is continuing. Adding 呢 at the end emphasizes that the state is happening right now.
着 is about the STATE that results from an action, not the action itself. 门关着 = the door is in the state of being closed (someone closed it and it remains closed). Compare with 在 which emphasizes the action in progress.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Aspect Particle: 着 (Continuous State) (动态助词：着)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 动态助词：着 pattern
New here?
Understanding 动态助词：着
If 在 is a video camera capturing an action in progress, then 着 is a photograph freezing a state in time. The particle 着 tells you that something happened and the resulting state continues. 门开着 — someone opened the door and it is still open. 她穿着红裙子 — she put on a red skirt and she is currently wearing it. The focus is not on the action of opening or dressing, but on the state that persists. 着 is also used to describe the backdrop or manner of a simultaneous action: 他笑着说 (he said while smiling) — the smiling accompanies and colors the speaking. You will hear 着 constantly when describing scenes: 墙上挂着一幅画 (A painting hangs on the wall), 桌子上放着一本书 (A book sits on the table). These are not actions happening — they are states that exist.
Key Points
- 着 (zhe) after a verb = ongoing state resulting from that action.
- State description: 门开着 (the door is open), 灯亮着 (the light is on).
- Wearing/carrying: 她穿着一件黑大衣 (She is wearing a black coat).
- Scene description: 桌子上放着一杯水 (A glass of water sits on the table).
- Manner/accompaniment: 他笑着说 (He said with a smile / He said while smiling).
- Adding 呢 emphasizes the current state: 电视开着呢 (The TV is on right now).
- Negative: 没 + Verb + 着. Example: 灯没开着 (The light is not on).
- Do not confuse 着 (state) with 在 (action in progress). 他穿着大衣 = he is wearing a coat (state). 他在穿大衣 = he is putting on a coat (action).
Chinese descriptive writing relies heavily on 着 to paint scenes. A classic opening might read: 窗外下着雨，屋里亮着灯 (Outside the window, rain was falling; inside, the lights were on). Learning to use 着 well will greatly improve your ability to describe what you see around you.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
门关着。
The door is closed.
State: the door remains shut
电视开着呢。
The TV is on.
呢 emphasizes the current state
他穿着一件黑大衣。
He is wearing a black overcoat.
孩子们在教室里高兴地唱着歌。
The children are happily singing songs in the classroom.
墙上挂着一幅画。
A painting hangs on the wall.
Describing a scene
她笑着对我说。
She said to me with a smile.
Manner — smiling while speaking
桌子上放着很多书。
Many books are placed on the table.
外面下着雨呢。
It is raining outside.
Common Mistakes
Do not combine 在 and 着 on the same verb. 在 = action in progress, 着 = resulting state. Here, wearing the coat is a state while going out.
To emphasize an ongoing state, use 呢 (not 了) after 着. 了 implies change, but 着 describes a continuing state.
着 always goes AFTER the verb, not before. The order is: Verb + 着.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Use 着 to describe what you see: look around a room and describe it — 灯开着, 窗户关着, 桌上放着书.
着 + 呢 is very natural in spoken Chinese to report current conditions: 下着雨呢！(It is raining!)
For "wearing" descriptions, always use 着: 她穿着, 他戴着帽子, 她背着书包.
Remember: 在 = action in progress (focus on doing), 着 = state continuing (focus on result/scene).
Homework
Describe a room or a scene you can see right now using at least six 着 sentences. Include people wearing things, objects placed somewhere, and doors or windows being open or closed.
Ask Jason
Have a question about Aspect Particle: 着 (Continuous State) (动态助词：着)?
Jason explains this pattern at your level, gives you more examples and checks your own sentences.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
See the Learning Lab