Lesson 12: 着 (zhe) for Expressing Existence in Chinese
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 着 (zhe) to express it. So, what is the difference between them?
着 (ZHE) IS FOR ‘STATIVE’ VERBS
In terms of expressing existence, 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 + 着 + Object
Location Verb 着 Object
衣柜里 挂 着 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 着 Object
沙发上 睡 着 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 没 (méi) – instead of 不 (bù) – as the negative determiners to express ‘there is no’ or ‘there are no’.
Structure: Location + 没 + Verb + 着 + Object
Location 没 Verb 着 Object
衣柜里 没 挂 着 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 没 Verb 着 Object
沙发上 没 睡 着 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.
