indicating the ongoing duration of a background event
39.3她的脸红着呢。( AV )
她的臉紅著呢。
Tā de liǎn hóngzhe ne.
Her face is red. (Not ‘Her face is being red.’)汤热着呢。( AV )
湯熱著呢。
Tāng rèzhe ne.
The soup is hot. (Not ‘The soup is being hot.’)In Mandarin, 着/著 zhe may also be suffixed to certain verbs in commands. The English
equivalent does not ordinarily involve ‘-ing.’拿着！/拿著！ Názhe! Hold it!/Take it!
记着！/記著！ Jìzhe! Remember!
等着！/等著！ Děngzhe! Wait!
坐着！/坐著！ Zuòzhe! Sit!C51.1.139.2.2 emphasizing the ongoing duration of a situation or state
To emphasize the ongoing duration of a situation or state, use the adverb 还/還 hái before
the [prepositional phrase +] verb or verb phrase. In affirmative sentences and questions, this
use of 还/還 hái can often be translated into English with the word ‘still.’他还在中国。
他還在中國。
Tā hái zài Zhōngguó.
He is still in China.你还喜欢他吗？
你還喜歡他嗎？
Nǐ hái xǐhuan tā ma?
Do you still like him?In negative sentences, this use of 还/還 hái can often be translated into English with the phrase
‘not yet.’他还没结婚。
他還沒結婚。
Tā hái méi jiéhūn.
He has not yet married. (He still hasn’t married.)我还没看那个电影。
我還沒看那個電影。
Wǒ hái méi kàn nàge diànyǐng.
I have not yet seen that movie. (I still haven’t seen that movie.)C15.2.3, 40.239.3 Indicating the ongoing duration of a background event
When two events occur at the same time, we sometimes consider one event to be the main
event and the other to be the background event. To signal that a background event is ongoing
as the main event occurs, follow the verb of the background event with the verb suffix
着/著 zhe.