V + 着
着: a continuing state; the manner accompanying another action
HSK 2HSK 3.0 · 2
S + V + 着 (+ O) | V1 + 着 + V2
着 after a verb describes a state that continues: 门开着 'the door is open', 他穿着一件白衬衫 'he is wearing a white shirt'. V1着V2 means doing V2 while in state V1: 坐着吃 'eat sitting down', 笑着说 'say with a smile'. Unlike 在 (an action in progress), 着 focuses on the resulting state: 他穿着红衣服 'he has red clothes on' vs 他在穿衣服 'he is putting clothes on'. 着 does not combine with 了, 过 or result complements.
HSK 2–3 picture listening (describing states) and HSK 3 character fill-in.
Examples
门开着，你进来吧。
The door's open; come in.
他穿着一件白衬衫。
He's wearing a white shirt.
我们坐着聊天吧。
Let's sit and chat.
她笑着说：“没问题！”
She said with a smile, 'No problem!'
外面下着雨呢，别出去了。
It's raining outside; don't go out.
Exercises
1.他手里拿 一本书。
2.他 说：“没关系。”
3.我们 说吧，别站着了。
4.Choose the correct sentence: