<p>着 when used between two verbs signifies that the first action accompanies the second (main) action.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我喜欢躺着听音乐。
I like to listen to music lying down</p>
<p>他坐着看电视。
He sits watching television</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-25T09:59:51.060Z
I agree. Like an adverb.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-17T10:22:29.453Z
2011-12-17T10:22:29.453Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
jsj
<ol>
<li><p>Indicating action in progress.</p>

<p>As shown by @xiaohouzi79's answer.</p></li>
<li><p>Accompanying another major action.</p>

<p>As shown by @trideceth12's answer.</p></li>
<li><p>Special usage</p>

<p>Sometimes, neither of the above two can tell the whole story. For example,</p>

<p><code>走着瞧 (zǒu zhe qiáo) which roughly means Let's wait and see.</code></p>

<p><code>你看着办吧 (nǐ kàn zhe bàn ba) which roughly means It's up to you.</code></p>

<p>You can say it falls to case 1 in some sense. But I feel it's used as a whole, like an idiom.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-25T10:08:00.543Z
2013-08-25T10:08:00.543Z
George
<p>This is used for both actions in progress and things that are happening in present tense, such as "she is wearing a dress".</p>

<p>I sometimes equate this to the -ing suffix.</p>

<p>Examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他穿<strong>着</strong>西装弹吉他</p>
</blockquote>

<p>He (She) is wear<strong>ing</strong> a suit and playing guitar</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你帮我看<strong>着</strong>他</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Help me look out for him (her) <strong>(at this moment)</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你看他扛<strong>着</strong>那么大的一个东西</p>
</blockquote>

<p>See him carry<strong>ing</strong> such a big thing</p>

<p>However, this is not used as -ing with actions as you would expect:</p>

<p>This is wrong:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strike>他在游泳着</strike></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The 着 here should be applied to the 游 i.e.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他在游着</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Wrong:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strike>他在弹吉他着</strike></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Right:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他在弹着吉他</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-25T09:54:31.850Z
他正弹着吉他 is better than 他在弹着吉他, though I can't say 他在弹着吉他 is not correct.
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T21:51:00.993Z
2011-12-15T22:01:22.033Z
2011-12-15T22:01:22.033Z
going
<p>It seems like for some verbs (正)在 is used to indicate action in progress, but I have also encountered 着 for some, like 穿着. When should it be used, is there a rule to follow?</p>

<grammar><usage>
When do I use 着 to indicate action in progress?
# When do I use 着 to indicate action in progress?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-15)

It seems like for some verbs (正)在 is used to indicate action in progress, but I have also encountered 着 for some, like 穿着. When should it be used, is there a rule to follow?

**Tags:** grammar, usage


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2011-12-15. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

This is used for both actions in progress and things that are happening in present tense, such as "she is wearing a dress".

I sometimes equate this to the -ing suffix.

Examples:

> 他穿**着**西装弹吉他

He (She) is wear**ing** a suit and playing guitar

> 你帮我看**着**他

Help me look out for him (her) **(at this moment)**

> 你看他扛**着**那么大的一个东西

See him carry**ing** such a big thing

However, this is not used as -ing with actions as you would expect:

This is wrong:

> 他在游泳着

The 着 here should be applied to the 游 i.e.

> 他在游着

Wrong:

> 他在弹吉他着

Right:

> 他在弹着吉他

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: 他正弹着吉他 is better than 他在弹着吉他, though I can't say 他在弹着吉他 is not correct.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-17. Score: 3

着 when used between two verbs signifies that the first action accompanies the second (main) action.

> 我喜欢躺着听音乐。
> I like to listen to music lying down
>
> 他坐着看电视。
> He sits watching television

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I agree. Like an adverb.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-08-25. Score: 2

1. Indicating action in progress.

   As shown by @xiaohouzi79's answer.
2. Accompanying another major action.

   As shown by @trideceth12's answer.
3. Special usage

   Sometimes, neither of the above two can tell the whole story. For example,

   `走着瞧 (zǒu zhe qiáo) which roughly means Let's wait and see.`

   `你看着办吧 (nǐ kàn zhe bàn ba) which roughly means It's up to you.`

   You can say it falls to case 1 in some sense. But I feel it's used as a whole, like an idiom.


---

