着

• 拼音: zhe
• 汉字拆解: 着 = 羊 (sheep, top component) + 目 (eye) — originally 'to see/touch', now a grammatical particle

含义

An aspect particle indicating an ongoing state or continuous action.

One of the most important grammatical particles in Chinese. Placed after a verb to indicate that an action or state is continuing. Different from 在 which emphasises an action in progress; 着 emphasises the resulting state. For example: 门开着 (the door is open — state), 他穿着红色的衣服 (he is wearing red clothes — state).

例句

1. 门开着呢。
2. 她穿着一件白色的衣服。
3. 桌子上放着一本书。

用法指南

语境: everyday, description

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 他站着说话。(He is standing while speaking.)
• 窗户开着。(The window is open.)

错误说法

• 我着吃饭。(Don't put 着 before the verb — say 我吃着饭 to mean 'while eating')

起源与历史

Originally meant 'to touch' or 'to contact'. Over time it grammaticalised into an aspect marker indicating a continuing state.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal