Difference between revisions of "Aspect particle "zhe""
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− | == Basic Structure == | + | The particle 着 (zhe) is one way of indicating the ''continuous aspect'' in Mandarin Chinese (another common way is [[Expressing actions in progress|using the adverb 在 in front of verbs]]). You may have heard that the Chinese particle 着 added onto the end of verbs is similar to the use of ''-ing'' in English. This isn't particularly helpful, however, because the use of 着 in Chinese is not nearly so commonly used, and can also be quite idiomatic. |
+ | |||
+ | == Basic Usage == | ||
+ | |||
+ | The main idea here is that the action won't just happen and stop immediately; it will continue for a while. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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Verb + 着 | Verb + 着 | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
− | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
− | + | This basic pattern is often used with commands involving certain verbs where the action persists for a while. | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | *我 读 ,你 听 <em>着</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dú, nǐ tīng <em>zhe</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'll read, and you listen.</span> |
− | * 我们 | + | *我们 做 ,你们 看 <em>着</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zuò, nǐmen kàn <em>zhe</em>.</span><span class="trans">We will do it, and you all watch.</span> |
− | * 我 | + | *你们 坐 <em>着</em> ,我 马上 回来 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen zuò <em>zhe</em>, wǒ mǎshàng huílái.</span><span class="trans">Sit for a while. I'll be right back.</span> |
+ | *我 出去 一下 ,你 帮 我 看 <em>着</em> 行李 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chūqù yīxià, nǐ bāng wǒ kān <em>zhe</em> xíngli.</span><span class="trans">I'll go out for a second, and you watch the luggage for me.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | == | + | == Used for Manner or State in which an Action is Performed == |
+ | |||
+ | This pattern is used when you want to use one verb to describe how ''another'' action is performed. | ||
− | + | === Structure === | |
− | <div class=" | + | <div class="jiegou"> |
− | + | Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2 | |
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− | |||
− | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | Note that the '''first verb''' (followed by 着) describes the '''state'''; the second verb is the action verb. In this case, the "-ing" translation can be useful for the state. | |
− | + | === Examples === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | + | *她 喜欢 站 <em>着</em> 吃饭 。<span class="expl">"standing + eat = eating while standing"</span><span class="pinyin">Tā xǐhuan zhàn <em>zhe</em> chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">She likes to eat standing up.</span> | |
− | + | *他 笑 <em>着</em> 说 “对不起” 。<span class="expl">"smiling + say = saying "I'm sorry" while smiling</span><span class="pinyin">Tā xiào <em>zhe</em> shuō "duìbuqǐ".</span><span class="trans">Smiling, he said, "I'm sorry."</span> | |
− | + | *孩子 抱 <em>着</em> 爸爸 哭 了 起来 。<span class="expl">"hugging + cry = crying while hugging</span><span class="pinyin">Háizi bào <em>zhe</em> bàba kū le qǐlái.</span><span class="trans">Hugging his daddy, the child started to cry.</span> | |
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</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | '''Note:''' If you want to make a sentence where both verbs are action verbs (neither is truly a state), then you don't want this pattern; you want [[Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"|一边⋯⋯,一边⋯⋯ (yībiān..., yībiān...)]]. | |
− | + | == Used for Continuous State == | |
− | + | While it's true that the "[[Expressing actions in progress (full form)|full progressive pattern]]" can make use of 着, this is not a pattern you're going to want to use all the time. | |
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− | + | === Usage Examples === | |
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− | + | The verbs most commonly used with 着 are the ones below: | |
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− | + | *开 (kāi) alone can mean "to open" or "to turn on." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is open" or "is on." | |
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− | + | *关 (guān) alone can mean "to close" or "to turn off." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is closed" or "is off." | |
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− | + | *穿 (chuān) alone means "to wear." Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" something (on one's person). | |
− | + | *戴 (dài) alone means "to wear" (an accessory). Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" a hat, jewelry, or accessory (on one's person). | |
− | + | *躺 (tǎng) alone means "to lie on one's back." Adding 着 allows one to express that someone "is lying down." | |
− | + | === Sentence Examples === | |
− | + | <div class="liju"> | |
− | </ | + | <ul> |
+ | <li class="o">公司 的 门 开 <em>着</em> ,可是 没 人 在 。<span class="expl">"Being open" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)</span><span class="pinyin">Gōngsī de mén kāi <em>zhe</em>, kěshì méi rén zài.</span><span class="trans">The office door is open but no one is in there.</span></li> | ||
+ | <li class="x">公司 的 门 <em>在</em> 开 ,可是 没 人 在 。<span class="expl">"Being open" is not an action, so don't use 在.)</span><span class="pinyin">Gōngsī de mén <em>zài</em> kāi, kěshì méi rén zài.</span></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | + | <ul> | |
+ | <li class="o">她 穿 <em>着</em> 一 条 小 黑 裙 。<span class="expl">"Be wearing" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)</span><span class="pinyin">Tā chuān <em>zhe</em> yī tiáo xiǎo hēi qún.</span><span class="trans">She's wearing a little black dress.</span></li> | ||
+ | <li class="x">她 <em>在</em> 穿 一 条 小 黑 裙 。<span class="expl">"Be wearing" is not an action, so don't use 在.)</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em> chuān yī tiáo xiǎo hēi qún.</span></li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
− | < | + | <ul> |
− | + | <li class="o">躺 <em>着</em> 最 舒服 。<span class="expl">"Lying down" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)</span><span class="pinyin">Tǎng <em>zhe</em> zuì shūfu.</span><span class="trans">It's most comfortable just lying down.</span></li> | |
− | + | <li class="x"><em>在</em> 躺 最 舒服 。<span class="expl">"Lying here" is not strictly an action, so don't use 在.)</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> tǎng zuì shūfu.</span></li> | |
− | + | </ul> | |
− | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | == Colloquial Sayings == | |
− | + | Certain verbs tend to take 着 more frequently than others, and what the 着 exactly is ''doing'' might not be apparent at all. It's best to think of these usages as set phrases. | |
− | + | === Examples === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | + | *听 <em>着</em> ! <span class="expl">"to listen and keep listening"</span><span class="pinyin">Tīng <em>zhe</em>!</span> | |
− | + | *别 客气 ,拿 <em>着</em> 吧 。<span class="expl">"to take and keep it"</span><span class="pinyin">Bié kèqi, ná <em>zhe</em> ba.</span> | |
− | + | *你们 等 <em>着</em> ! <span class="expl">"to wait and keeping waiting"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen děng <em>zhe</em>!</span> | |
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</div> | </div> | ||
− | There's also one colloquial usage of 着 that's | + | === Verb + 着 + 玩 "For Fun" === |
+ | |||
+ | There's also one colloquial usage of 着 that's often chosen for special treatment by Chinese textbooks, so we'll cover it here as well: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
− | + | Subj. + 是 + Verb + 着 + 玩 + 的 | |
− | Verb + 着 + | ||
− | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
This pattern may look like that "doing an action in a particular state" pattern already covered above, but in practice it doesn't really work that way. It just means "[Verb] for fun" or "[Verb] as a joke." | This pattern may look like that "doing an action in a particular state" pattern already covered above, but in practice it doesn't really work that way. It just means "[Verb] for fun" or "[Verb] as a joke." | ||
− | Examples of | + | === Examples of Verb + 着 + 玩 === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | * | + | *你 不要 生气 ,我 是 说 <em>着</em> 玩 的 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bùyào shēngqì, wǒ shì shuō <em>zhe</em> wán de!</span><span class="trans">Don't be mad. I was just joking.</span> |
− | * 我 听不懂 英文 | + | *我 听不懂 英文 歌 ,只 是 听 <em>着</em> 玩 的 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīng bu dǒng Yīngwén gē, zhǐshì tīng <em>zhe</em> wán de.</span><span class="trans">I don't understand English songs. I just listen to them for fun.</span> |
− | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | ==See also== | + | == See also == |
* [[Expressing actions in progress]] | * [[Expressing actions in progress]] | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
− | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|100}} | |
− | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|32}} | |
− | + | {{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) |414 - 423}} | |
+ | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|89}} | ||
+ | {{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|217 - 225}} | ||
+ | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|242-3}} | ||
+ | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|17}} | ||
+ | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|238-9}} | ||
+ | {{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|255}} | ||
=== Websites === | === Websites === | ||
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* About.com: [http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/aspect.htm Mandarin Chinese Aspect] | * About.com: [http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/aspect.htm Mandarin Chinese Aspect] | ||
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-how-we-verb Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We Verb] (free content) | * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-how-we-verb Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We Verb] (free content) | ||
− | * ChinesePod:[http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-actions-in-progress Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Actions in Progress] (free content) | + | * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-actions-in-progress Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Actions in Progress] (free content) |
− | * ChinesePod:[http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-verbs-as-states Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as States] (free content) | + | * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-%E7%9D%80-zhe-chronicles-verbs-as-states Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as States] (free content) |
+ | |||
+ | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
+ | {{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}} | ||
+ | {{HSK|HSK3}} | ||
+ | {{Basic Grammar|着|B1|Verb + 着|我 读 ,你 听 <em>着</em> 。|grammar point|ASGOIDEO}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Expressing actions in progress}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|"Verbing away" using "zhe"}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Expressing actions in progress (full form)}} | ||
+ | {{Used for|Expressing duration}} | ||
+ | {{Used for|Indicating conditions}} | ||
+ | {{POS|Particles}} |
Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021
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Used for
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Keywords
The particle 着 (zhe) is one way of indicating the continuous aspect in Mandarin Chinese (another common way is using the adverb 在 in front of verbs). You may have heard that the Chinese particle 着 added onto the end of verbs is similar to the use of -ing in English. This isn't particularly helpful, however, because the use of 着 in Chinese is not nearly so commonly used, and can also be quite idiomatic.
Contents
Basic Usage
The main idea here is that the action won't just happen and stop immediately; it will continue for a while.
Structure
Verb + 着
Examples
This basic pattern is often used with commands involving certain verbs where the action persists for a while.
- 我 读 ,你 听 着 。I'll read, and you listen.
- 我们 做 ,你们 看 着 。We will do it, and you all watch.
- 你们 坐 着 ,我 马上 回来 。Sit for a while. I'll be right back.
- 我 出去 一下 ,你 帮 我 看 着 行李 。I'll go out for a second, and you watch the luggage for me.
Used for Manner or State in which an Action is Performed
This pattern is used when you want to use one verb to describe how another action is performed.
Structure
Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2
Note that the first verb (followed by 着) describes the state; the second verb is the action verb. In this case, the "-ing" translation can be useful for the state.
Examples
- 她 喜欢 站 着 吃饭 。"standing + eat = eating while standing"She likes to eat standing up.
- 他 笑 着 说 “对不起” 。"smiling + say = saying "I'm sorry" while smilingSmiling, he said, "I'm sorry."
- 孩子 抱 着 爸爸 哭 了 起来 。"hugging + cry = crying while huggingHugging his daddy, the child started to cry.
Note: If you want to make a sentence where both verbs are action verbs (neither is truly a state), then you don't want this pattern; you want 一边⋯⋯,一边⋯⋯ (yībiān..., yībiān...).
Used for Continuous State
While it's true that the "full progressive pattern" can make use of 着, this is not a pattern you're going to want to use all the time.
Usage Examples
The verbs most commonly used with 着 are the ones below:
- 开 (kāi) alone can mean "to open" or "to turn on." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is open" or "is on."
- 关 (guān) alone can mean "to close" or "to turn off." Adding 着 allows one to express that something "is closed" or "is off."
- 穿 (chuān) alone means "to wear." Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" something (on one's person).
- 戴 (dài) alone means "to wear" (an accessory). Adding 着 allows one to express that one "is wearing" a hat, jewelry, or accessory (on one's person).
- 躺 (tǎng) alone means "to lie on one's back." Adding 着 allows one to express that someone "is lying down."
Sentence Examples
- 公司 的 门 开 着 ,可是 没 人 在 。"Being open" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)The office door is open but no one is in there.
- 公司 的 门 在 开 ,可是 没 人 在 。"Being open" is not an action, so don't use 在.)
- 她 穿 着 一 条 小 黑 裙 。"Be wearing" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)She's wearing a little black dress.
- 她 在 穿 一 条 小 黑 裙 。"Be wearing" is not an action, so don't use 在.)
- 躺 着 最 舒服 。"Lying down" is a state, so using 着 is natural.)It's most comfortable just lying down.
- 在 躺 最 舒服 。"Lying here" is not strictly an action, so don't use 在.)
Colloquial Sayings
Certain verbs tend to take 着 more frequently than others, and what the 着 exactly is doing might not be apparent at all. It's best to think of these usages as set phrases.
Examples
- 听 着 ! "to listen and keep listening"
- 别 客气 ,拿 着 吧 。"to take and keep it"
- 你们 等 着 ! "to wait and keeping waiting"
Verb + 着 + 玩 "For Fun"
There's also one colloquial usage of 着 that's often chosen for special treatment by Chinese textbooks, so we'll cover it here as well:
Subj. + 是 + Verb + 着 + 玩 + 的
This pattern may look like that "doing an action in a particular state" pattern already covered above, but in practice it doesn't really work that way. It just means "[Verb] for fun" or "[Verb] as a joke."
Examples of Verb + 着 + 玩
- 你 不要 生气 ,我 是 说 着 玩 的 。Don't be mad. I was just joking.
- 我 听不懂 英文 歌 ,只 是 听 着 玩 的 。I don't understand English songs. I just listen to them for fun.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 100) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 32) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 414 - 423) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 89) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 217 - 225) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 242-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 17) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 238-9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册) (pp. 255) [ →buy]
Websites
- About.com: Mandarin Chinese Aspect
- ChinesePod: Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: How We Verb (free content)
- ChinesePod: Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Actions in Progress (free content)
- ChinesePod: Qing Wen - The 着 (zhe) Chronicles: Verbs as States (free content)