Using "zhe" when "verbing away"

Repeating a verb followed by 着 is used to show that an action has be repeated for a period of time, and as a result a new situation has arisen which the speaker wishes to comment on.

V + 着 + V + 着 + comment

Here are some examples:

• 说着 说着 我 就 发现 自己 也 糊涂 了。
• 我 今天 一直 都 在 看 语法 的 书， 看着 看着 ，就 睡着 了。
• 我 在 北京 的 胡同 里 走 着 走 着 就 走丢 了。

See also

• "Verbing around" with "lai" and "qu"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 193-4) →buy