Meaning
着 is a versatile character with multiple pronunciations and functions. As 'zhe', it's a grammatical particle attached to verbs to show an ongoing action or state. As 'zháo', it means to touch, to catch fire, or to fall asleep. As 'zhuó', it means to wear or to touch (formal).
Usage
Most commonly encountered as the particle 'zhe' (neutral tone) after verbs to indicate duration or a state, like 坐着 (sitting), 站着 (standing), 开着 (open/on). The 'zháo' pronunciation appears in compounds like 着急 (anxious) and 睡着 (fell asleep). Native speakers use 'zhe' constantly in spoken Mandarin to describe ongoing states.
Examples
- 01门开着呢，你可以直接进去。, .The door is open, you can go straight in.
- 02别着急，慢慢来。, .Don't worry, take your time.
Common collocations
- 着急to be anxious, worried
- 睡着to fall asleep
- 接着then, to continue
- 沿着along, following
Origin
The traditional form 著 originally depicted a hand holding a tool or object. The simplified form 着 combines 目 (eye) and 丶, though this is a simplification convention rather than semantic.