durative aspect
17.217.2.3 duration vs. progression
Sometimes, either 着/著 zhe or 在 zài can occur with a verb. The choice of 着/著 zhe or 在 zài
changes the sense of the verb in ways that illustrate the difference between the two types of
durative aspect markers. Here are some examples.穿着/穿著 chuānzhe
她穿着高跟鞋。
她穿著高跟鞋。
Tā chuānzhe gāogēnxié.
She is wearing (she is in) high-heels.在穿 zài chuān
她在穿高跟鞋。
Tā zài chuān gāogēnxié.
She’s putting on high heels.The verb 穿 chuān means both ‘put on (clothing on the torso or legs)’ or ‘wear (clothing on
the torso or legs).’ When suffixed with 着/著 zhe, which focuses on unchanging, durative
situations, the verb must be interpreted as ‘wear.’ When preceded by the aspect marker 在 zài,
which focuses on the progression of a situation, the verb must be interpreted as ‘put on.’
Here are additional examples:挂着/掛著 guàzhe
墙上挂着一张画儿。
牆上掛著一張畫兒。
Qiángshàng guàzhe yī zhāng huàr.
There is a painting hanging on the wall.在掛 zài guà
爸爸在挂画儿呢。
爸爸在掛畫兒呢。
Bàba zài guà huàr ne.
Dad is hanging pictures.挂 guà means ‘hang (an object on a wall)’ or ‘be hanging (on a wall).’ When someone is
performing the action of hanging more than one picture, the action itself involves a progres-
sion that takes place over time. Preceding 挂 guà with the progressive aspect marker 在 zài
emphasizes that ongoing progression. In contrast, once an item is hung on a wall, it remains
hanging there, an unchanging state. Suffixing 挂 guà with 着/著 zhe emphasizes the ongoing,
unchanging nature of the situation. The same contrast is illustrated in the following pair of
sentences with 写/寫 xiě ‘write.’ When 写/寫 xiě is preceded by 在, the sentence emphasizes
the ongoing progression of writing. When 写/寫 xiě is suffixed with 着/著 zhe, the sentence
emphasizes the unchanging, ongoing nature of something that is written.
写着/寫著 xiězhe门上写着你的名字。
門上寫著你的名字。
Ménshang xiězhe nǐ de míngzi.
Your name is written on the door.在写/在寫 zài xiě弟弟在写汉字。
弟弟在寫漢字。
Dìdi zài xiě Hàn zì.
Younger brother is writing Chinese characters.