着 (zháo) — (verb complement) to succeed in doing, to come into a state (in 睡着, 找着, 着火)
Definition
Pronounced zháo, this 着 is a result/completion complement meaning something 'succeeded' or 'reached a state' (e.g. 睡着 fell asleep, 找着 found it). Don't confuse it with the aspect marker 着 (zhe).
verb
(verb complement) to succeed in doingto come into a state (in 睡着, 找着, 着火)
Examples
- ，。Tā tài lèi le, yí shàng chē jiù shuì zháo le.He was so tired he fell asleep as soon as he got in the car.
- 着。Wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo zháo le nà ge gōng yuán.I finally found that park.
- ，着。Zhǐ tài shī, diǎn bù zháo.The paper is too wet to catch fire.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 著; 着 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss; plant
The traditional form 著 puts 艸 (grass; plant) above 者, which gives the sound; the simplified 着 is a later shorthand.
Grammar
Appears in
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