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Lesson 12. 着 (zhe) for Expressing Existence in Chinese

著, 着, zhe, Chinese existence

In the previous lesson, we learn that 有 (yǒu) can be used to express the existence of someone or something in a particular place. You can also use 著 [着] (zhe) to express it. So, what is the difference between them?

 

[] (zhe) is for ‘stative’ verbs

In terms of expressing existence, 著 [着] (zhe) is generally paired with stative verbs rather than dynamic verbs. The examples of the static condition verbs including placed, lived, hanged, parked, and so on.

Structure:

Location + Verb + 著 [着] + Object

 

Location Verb [] Object
衣櫃裡 一些衣服。
衣柜里 一些衣服。
Yī guì lǐ guà zhe yī xiē yī fú.
in the wardrobe hanging there are some clothes
There are some clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

 

Location Verb [] Object
沙發上 一個小女孩。
沙发上 一个小女孩。
Shā fā shàng shuì zhe yī gè xiǎo nǚ hái.
on the sofa sleeping there is a little girl
There is a little girl sleeping on the sofa.

 

NEGATIVE SENTENCE

Just like 有 (yǒu), we use 沒 [没] (méi) – instead of 不 (bù) – as the negative determiners to express ‘there is no’ or ‘there are no’.

Structure: Location + 沒 [没] + Verb + 著 [着] + Object

 

Location [] Verb [] Object
衣櫃裡 衣服。
衣柜里 衣服。
Yī guì lǐ méi guà zhe yī fú.
in the wardrobe no hanging there are clothes
There are no clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

 

Location [] Verb [] Object
沙發上 小女孩。
沙发上 小女孩。
Shā fā shàng méi shuì zhe xiǎo nǚ hái.
on the sofa no sleeping there is little girl
There is no little girl sleeping on the sofa.

 

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