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Lesson

Ongoing State (V着)

1. Explain it simply

着 after a verb shows an ongoing state or the manner of an action.

门开着 means the door is (staying) open; 他站着看书 means he reads while standing.

着 attaches right after its verb and stays there.

Don't move 着 to the front or the end of the sentence.

2. Show examples

门开着。

Mén kāizhe.

The door is open.

ongoing state

他站着看书。

Tā zhànzhe kàn shū.

He reads standing.

manner: V着 + V

灯开着。

Dēng kāizhe.

The light is on.

着 right after the verb

3. Share a tip

着 sits directly after its verb to mark an ongoing state; moving it to the front or end makes the sentence wrong.

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