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16 Chinese Grammar Points about the Particle "着"


  • 1. 着(zhe) - Duration or Continuity(1)
    When 着 is used as a particle, it is pronounced 'zhe'. It is placed right after the verb to indicate that the action is in progress or the state continues.
  • 2. 着(zhe) - Duration or Continuity(2)
    The verb suffix 着 marks the duration or continuity of a situation.
  • 3. 着(zhe) and '一直' can be used together to indicate that the action is continuing.
  • 4. 着(zhe) and '在/正在' can be used to indicate the action in progress.
  • 5. Adjective+着(zhe)
    着 can be used after some adjectives to indicate the degree of comparison.
  • 6. Preposition+着(zhe)
    着 can be added after some verbs to make them prepositions.
  • 7. 着(zhe) - To be used in an imperative sentence.
  • 8. 着(zhe)+呢
    着呢 can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate the continuous aspect of an action. 呢 is optional.
  • 9. End with 着(zhe)
    着 can appear at the end of the sentence.
  • 10. 着(zhe) - The existence of a situation
    the particle 了/着 can be considered interchangeable in the existential sentence.
  • 11. Location+Verb+着(zhe)
    The location phrase can be placed in the position of subject.
  • 12. 着(zhe) - Multiple verbs
    Sometimes there are multiple verbs in the same sentence.
  • 13. 不着(zháo) indicates there would be no outcome or result of the action. 
  • 14. 得着(zháo) indicates there would be an outcome/result of the action.
  • 15. 着(zháo) can be used after the verb and indicates that it has achieved its purpose or has the result. 
  • 16. 着(zhuó) refers to clothing, or to be used as the verb 'wear'.