着 zhe ongoing action (verb suffix)
ongoing action (verb suffix); lasting state
zhe (ongoing state) and zháo (to touch; succeed) - 看着 kànzhe, 着急 zháojí
How to remember 着: ⺶ sheep + 目 eye = ongoing action (verb suffix). The orphan sheep keeps its eye on the farmer's daughter from morning till night, a staring that is one long ongoing action.
Component breakdown
着 = ⺶ sheep + 目 eye
- ⺶ sheep
- 目 eye
The orphan sheep keeps its eye on the farmer's daughter from morning till night, a staring that is one long ongoing action.
How it is used
- Read zhe, it sticks to a verb for an ONGOING action or lasting state - 开着门 (kāizhe mén) the door is (kept) open, 站着说话 (zhànzhe shuōhuà) talk while standing.
- Trap: 着 (zhe) marks a continuing state, NOT a finished action - that's 了 (le). It also stacks under 正在…呢 for progressives.
- Read zháo, it means to touch/succeed/be affected - 着急 (zháojí) anxious, 着火 (zháohuǒ) catch fire, 睡着 (shuìzháo) fall asleep.
Words with 着
- 着急zháojíto worryHSK 3
- 接着jiēzhecontinueHSK 4
- 随着suízhealong withHSK 4
- 有着yǒuzheto haveHSK 4
- 着火zháohuǒto catch fireHSK 4
- 意味着yìwèizheto signifyHSK 5
- 着凉zháoliángto catch coldHSK 5
- 本着běnzhebased on...HSK 7
- 着力zhuólìto put effort into somethingHSK 7
- 着实zhuóshítrulyHSK 7
- 着想zhuóxiǎngto give thought (to others)HSK 7
- 着手zhuóshǒuto put one's hand to itHSK 7
- 着眼zhuóyǎnto have one's eyes on (a goal)HSK 7
- 着落zhuóluòwhereaboutsHSK 7
- 着迷zháomíto be fascinatedHSK 7
- 着重zhuózhòngto put emphasis onHSK 7
- 穿着chuānzhuóattireHSK 7
- 执着zhízhuóto be strongly attached toHSK 8
- 沉着chénzhuósteadyHSK 9
Example sentences
- 屋外下着雪。 Wūwài xiàzhe xuě.It's snowing outside.
- 桌子上放着碗。 Zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe wǎn.The bowl is on the table.
- 桌上放着一个杯子。 Zhuō shàng fàngzhe yí gè bēizi.There is a glass on the table.
- 药片都包着一层糖衣。 Yàopiàn dōu bāozhe yī céng tángyī.All the pills are coated with sugar.