Learn the Difference Between “着” (zhe) and “了” (le) in Chinese

Dao Mandarin
3 days ago
3 min read

Learn the difference between Chinese "着zhe” and “了le”

When you’re learning Chinese, two tiny characters can cause big confusion: "着" (zhe) and "了" (le). They both relate to actions, but they describe very different things. Understanding how they work will make your sentences more natural and help you express time, status, and changes more confidently.

1. 着 (zhe): An Action That Is Continuing

Think of "着" as a “background action” or a persistent state. It tells your listener that something is "ongoing, in progress, or in a certain state" that is lasting in the present moment.

Key Idea: 着 = a continuous, ongoing action or state

Showing an Ongoing State or Result.

This is often used to describe how a person or thing is positioned, or the lasting result of an action.

Showing the Manner of an Action

When used with two verbs, “着zhe ”indicates the background action or manner in which the main action is performed.

Negation: To negate an ongoing action with “着”, you use “没” (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu).

For example:

2. Learn Chinese 着（zhe）了 (le): 了 A Change or Completion

"了" is used when something changes, finishes, or becomes different than before. It can appear immediately after a verb to mark completion, or at the end of the sentence to mark a change or new situation.

Key Idea: 了 = change of state OR completed action (perfect tense)

Completed Action (Verb + 了)

This placement tells us the action itself is finished, regardless of when it happened.

Change of State or New Situation (Sentence + 了)

This placement emphasizes that the current situation is different from a previous state.

3. 着zhe vs. 了le: Key Comparisons

When these two particles appear near the same verb, the difference in meaning is often quite significant.

着zheState vs. 了leAction/Completion

着zhe-Still Happening vs.了le Already Changed

4. 着 zhe /了le Mandarin Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge! Use the button to reveal the correct particle for the blank space.

FAQ about 着 zhe and 了le

Q1: What is the main difference between 着 and 了?

“着 (zhe)”indicates an ongoing, continuous action or state. Think of it as the present participle or continuous aspect (like "-ing" in English).
"了 (le)" indicates completion of an action or a change of state/new situation.

Q2: Does 了 always mean past tense?

No, not strictly. When “了le” follows a verb, it means the action is "completed" (perfect tense). When it appears at the end of a sentence (Sentence + 了), it marks a "change" or "new situation", which can refer to a change happening now or in the future (e.g., "天要下雨了" - It is going to rain now).

For example:

Q3: How do I negate a sentence that would use 着?

To negate a continuous action or state marked by "着", you use "没" (*méi*) or "没有"("méiyǒu") before the verb. You keep "着" after the verb.

For example:

Q4: How does 着 show the manner of an action?

"着" is placed after the verb that describes the manner (or background action) in which the main verb is performed.

For example:

Q5: What is the meaning difference between 穿了 and 穿着?