Continuous Aspect: Verb + 着
持续态：动词+着
Describe ongoing states and continuous actions using the aspect particle 着
着 (zhe) is an aspect particle attached after a verb to indicate a CONTINUOUS state or an ONGOING action. For states, it means "is/are in the state of V-ing." For actions, it means "is/are V-ing." The negative form uses 没 before the verb.
着 has two main uses: (1) describing a state that persists (灯亮着 = the light is on) and (2) describing an action in progress (下着雪呢 = it is snowing). The state usage is more common at HSK 2 level. The negative is 没 + verb + 着.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Continuous Aspect: Verb + 着 (持续态：动词+着)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 持续态：动词+着 pattern
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Understanding 持续态：动词+着
You already know 了 (completed action) and 过 (past experience). Now meet 着, the third major aspect particle. While 了 looks BACK at what is done and 过 recalls what was experienced, 着 looks at the PRESENT — what is happening right now or what state something is in. There are two key uses. First, STATES: 灯亮着 (The light is on — and it stays on). 门开着 (The door is open — and it remains open). The state persists — nothing is actively happening, but the condition continues. Second, ACTIONS IN PROGRESS: 外边下着雪呢 (It is snowing outside — right now, as we speak). 他们说着、笑着 (They were chatting and laughing — the actions were ongoing). For states, the negative is 没 + verb + 着: 灯没亮着 (The light is not on). For actions, the negative drops 着: 外边没下雪 (It is not snowing outside). This distinction is important — state negation keeps 着, but action negation drops it.
Key Points
- 着 (zhe) = continuous aspect particle — placed directly after the verb.
- State usage: verb + 着 = "is in the state of V-ing" — 灯亮着 (light is on).
- Action usage: verb + 着 + 呢 = "is currently V-ing" — 下着雪呢 (it is snowing).
- State negative: 没 + verb + 着 — 灯没亮着 (the light is not on).
- Action negative: 没 + verb (着 is dropped) — 外边没下雪 (it is not snowing).
- 着 for states often describes positions, openness, brightness — things that persist.
- 着 can connect two simultaneous actions: 说着、笑着 (talking and laughing).
- Common state verbs with 着: 开着, 关着, 亮着, 坐着, 站着, 穿着, 戴着.
Chinese speakers use 着 extensively to set scenes and describe environments. When telling a story, 着 paints the background: 窗户开着，风吹着 (The window was open, the wind was blowing). This scene-setting technique is common in Chinese storytelling and literature.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
灯一直亮着。
The light has been on (this whole time).
State: the light remains on
灯没亮着。
The light is not on.
State negation: keeps 着
电脑开着。
The computer is on.
电脑没开着。
The computer is not on.
外边下着雪呢。
It is snowing outside.
Action in progress
外边没下雪。
It is not snowing outside.
Action negation: 着 is dropped
他们说着、笑着，不一会儿就到学校了。
They chatted and laughed, and before long they arrived at school.
Two simultaneous ongoing actions
门开着，你进来吧。
The door is open — come in.
Common Mistakes
For ACTION negation, drop 着. Only STATE negation keeps 着 (灯没亮着).
For STATE negation, keep 着. 灯没亮 means "the light did not turn on" (event), while 灯没亮着 means "the light is not on" (current state).
Do not combine 了 and 着 on the same verb. 了 = completed, 着 = ongoing state. Use one or the other.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 着 as a camera capturing a scene — it freezes the current state or ongoing action.
State 着 = "is V-ed" (door is open, light is on). Action 着 + 呢 = "is V-ing" (is raining, is snowing).
The biggest pitfall: state negation KEEPS 着 (没开着), but action negation DROPS 着 (没下雨).
Practice describing your room right now: 灯开着, 窗户关着, 书放着 — paint the scene with 着.
Homework
Look around you right now and write eight sentences using 着. Four should describe states of objects (lights, doors, windows, devices) and four should describe actions in progress. Include at least two negative sentences — one for a state (没V着) and one for an action (没V).