Chinese grammar · Elementary (A2)
在, 正在 and 着
How 在 and 正在 (+ 呢) show that an action is going on right now, and how 着 describes a state that lasts, such as 穿着 and 坐着.
Actions in progress: 在 and 正在
Put (zài) or (zhèngzài) before a verb to say that the action is going on at that moment: (tā zài chīfàn), he's eating. stresses “right now, at this very moment”. (ne) at the end adds the same idea and sounds natural in speech: (tā zhèngzài kāihuì ne), he's in a meeting right now. In casual talk, alone can do the job: (tā shuìjiào ne), he's asleep.
Nothing changes for the past; the time word does the work: (nǐ gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà de shíhou, wǒ zài xǐzǎo), when you called me, I was having a shower.
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 在 + verb | (Wǒ zài zuòfàn.) | I'm cooking. |
| 正在 + verb | (Wàimiàn zhèngzài xià yǔ.) | It's raining outside right now. |
| 正在 + verb + 呢 | (Tā zhèngzài kāihuì ne.) | He's in a meeting at the moment. |
| verb + 呢 | (Háizimen shuìjiào ne.) | The children are sleeping. |
Negatives and questions
The negative is (méi zài) + verb, without or : (wǒ méi zài kàn diànshì), I'm not watching TV. Often people just say what they are doing instead. To ask, use (ma), or ask (Nǐ zài gàn shénme ne?), what are you doing?
Verbs for states, such as (shì), (yǒu), (zhīdào) and (xǐhuan), don't take : they already describe something that lasts.
- 你在干什么呢？Nǐ zài gàn shénme ne?What are you doing?
- 我在给妈妈打电话。Wǒ zài gěi māma dǎ diànhuà.I'm on the phone to my mum.
- 我没在睡觉，我在看书。Wǒ méi zài shuìjiào, wǒ zài kàn shū.I'm not sleeping, I'm reading.
- 王经理正在开会呢，您要留言吗？Wáng jīnglǐ zhèngzài kāihuì ne, nín yào liúyán ma?Mr Wang is in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?
着 for a lasting state
着 (zhe) after a verb describes a state that continues once the action is done. You put a coat on once; after that you are (chuānzhe) it. You sit down once; after that you are (zuòzhe). 着 is typical in descriptions of people, clothes and scenes.
着 often goes with (ne): (mén kāizhe ne), the door is open. The negative is (méi) + verb + 着: (mén méi kāizhe), the door isn't open. To say what is somewhere, use place + verb + 着 + thing: (qiáng shang guàzhe yì zhāng dìtú), there's a map on the wall.
- 她穿着一件红衣服。Tā chuānzhe yí jiàn hóng yīfu.She's wearing a red top.
- 那个戴着眼镜的人是我表姐。Nàge dàizhe yǎnjìng de rén shì wǒ biǎojiě.The person wearing glasses is my cousin.
- 门开着呢，进来吧。Mén kāizhe ne, jìnlai ba.The door's open, come in.
- 桌子上放着很多书。Zhuōzi shang fàngzhe hěn duō shū.There are lots of books on the table.
How something is done: verb + 着 + verb
A first verb with 着 can show how the second action is done: (zhànzhe chī), eat standing up; (xiàozhe shuō), say with a smile; (zǒuzhe qù), go on foot.
- 我们走着去吧，不远。Wǒmen zǒuzhe qù ba, bù yuǎn.Let's walk there, it isn't far.
- 他躺着看手机。Tā tǎngzhe kàn shǒujī.He's lying down looking at his phone.
- 她笑着说：“没关系。”Tā xiàozhe shuō: “Méi guānxi.”She said with a smile, “It doesn't matter.”