过 vs 着 (guò vs zhe): experiential vs durative aspect particles
过 (guò) and 着 (zhe) are aspect particles that express different temporal perspectives: 过 marks an action that has been experienced at least once, often in the past, while 着 marks an ongoing state or continuous action. The key distinction is that 过 implies completion and experience, whereas 着 implies continuity and persistence. Both can appear in various time frames, but their core functions differ fundamentally.
过 (guò) and 着 (zhe) are both aspect particles attached to verbs to indicate temporal or aspectual meaning. 过 signals that the subject has undergone an action at least once (experiential aspect), emphasizing the experience itself rather than the time of occurrence. 着 indicates an ongoing state or continuous action (durative/imperfective aspect), often with a sense of simultaneity or persistence. While 过 is frequently associated with the past, it can also be used in future contexts to express completion before a reference point (e.g., 你吃过饭再来 'come after you have eaten'). 着 is used for actions in progress or states that endure, and it often pairs with 在/正在 to emphasize ongoingness.
When to use each
Use 过 to indicate that someone has experienced an action at least once. It focuses on the experience itself, not the time when it happened. 过 can be used in past, present, or future contexts (e.g., 你吃过饭再来 'come after you have eaten'). It is commonly used in questions about past experiences (verb + 过 + 吗/没有) and negated with 没(有) + verb + 过.
过 does not specify when the experience occurred; it only indicates that it has happened before. For a specific past time, 了 is more appropriate.
Use 着 to indicate an ongoing action or a continuing state. It often appears in the pattern 在/正在 + verb + 着 to emphasize progression, but 着 alone can mark a state (e.g., 门开着 'the door is open'). It is used for actions currently in progress or states that persist. 着 can also be used in commands to maintain a state (e.g., 坐着！ 'stay seated!').
In negative sentences, 着 is not used; instead, use 没(有) with the verb without 着. For verb-object compounds (like 跑步), 着 is inserted between the verb and object: 跑着步。Additionally, 着 often appears with 呢 for emphasis (e.g., 他看着书呢 'he is reading').
At a glance
| 过 | 着 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core function | Marks completion/experience | Marks ongoing state/continuity |
| Typical time reference | Often past, but can be future (completion before a reference point) | Present or background state in any time frame |
| Negation pattern | 没(有) + verb + 过 | 没(有) + verb (着 omitted); or use 不在/没在 |
| Question pattern | verb + 过 + 吗/没有? | verb + 着 + 吗? (less common); often 在/正在...吗? |
| Placement with object | verb + 过 + object | verb + 着 + object (for verb-object compounds: verb + 着 + object, e.g., 跑着步) |
| Use with duration | Cannot be used with duration to mean continuous action | Can be used with duration to indicate a persistent state (e.g., 他睡着两个小时 is incorrect; use 他睡了两个小时 with 了) |
Examples
- 过我去过北京。Wǒ qùguò Běijīng.I have been to Beijing.Experience: the speaker has had the experience of going to Beijing.
- 着她正看着电视。Tā zhèng kàn zhe diànshì.She is watching TV.Ongoing action: 正 emphasizes the current progression.
- 过你吃过饭再来。Nǐ chīguò fàn zài lái.Come after you have eaten.Future context: 过 indicates eating will be completed before another action.
- 着门开着。Mén kāi zhe.The door is open.State: the door remains in an open state.
- 过你听过这首歌吗？Nǐ tīngguò zhè shǒu gē ma?Have you heard this song?Question about experience.
- 着他跑着步呢。Tā pǎo zhe bù ne.He is running.Correct placement of 着 with verb-object compound (跑步 → 跑着步).
Common mistakes
- Using 着 for a completed experience: *我吃着北京菜。 (should be 我吃过北京菜 'I have eaten Beijing cuisine').
- Using 过 for an ongoing action: *他看过书。 (when meaning 'he is reading'; should be 他看着书呢 or 他在看书).
- Misplacing 着 after the object: *我跑步着呢。 (should be 我跑着步呢 or 我正在跑步呢).
- Using 着 in a negative sentence: *我不看着。 (negative of 看着 is 没看, not 没看着).
- Using 过 with duration to mean a continuous action: *他睡过两个小时。 (if meaning 'he slept for two hours', use 他睡了两个小时, not 过).
FAQ
- When do I use 过 vs 着?
- 过 indicates that an action has been experienced at least once (e.g., 我去过中国 'I have been to China'), while 着 indicates an ongoing state or action (e.g., 我在中国住着 'I am living in China'). Think of 过 as 'have done' and 着 as 'doing' or 'in a state'.
- Can 过 be used for future actions?
- Yes. 过 can be used in future contexts to indicate that an action will be completed before a reference point. For example, 你吃过饭再来 means 'Come after you have eaten (future completion)'. This does not change the core meaning of 'experience' or 'completion'.
- How do I negate sentences with 过 and 着?
- Negate 过 with 没(有) + verb + 过, e.g., 我没去过中国 'I have not been to China'. Negate 着 by omitting 着 and using 没(有) + verb, e.g., 门没开 'the door is not open' (not 门没开着). For ongoing actions, use 没(有) in verb phrase: 他没在看书 'he is not reading'.
- Can I use both 过 and 着 in the same sentence?
- Generally no, because they express conflicting aspects (completion vs. continuity). However, in complex sentences they might appear in separate clauses, e.g., 我看过这本书，现在正看着另一本 'I have read this book, and now I am reading another one'.