‘着’ is a tricky character! How does it differ with '正在'，and why is it only used with some verbs, like ‘带’ and ‘坐’ but not with others? And why can it be used in the imperative? For example ‘抓着树’，‘你看着这儿’?
用中文还是英文来给我说明都行，谢谢大家！
Basically there are two types of 着：
1. It shows the verb is in progress but the subject doesn’t move.
他坐着 He is sitting.
他走着 (X)
(some native speakers might argue it’s right “in some contexts” but here I wrote just three words and that’s all. This is not complete sentence if we don’t add anything else)
2. It shows the action as a “background information” and there’s another main verb.
他听着音乐做作业 He is doing/does homework, listening to music
The main verb is “do”, the background information is that he listens to music at the same time.
A student who focuses on the music more than on his homework would be “做着作业听音乐” :P
The third usage you might see is 我正吃着饭呢！
The structure is “(正)V着呢”. It’s not 着 alone. In this case it equals to “正在V(呢)”
As Forrest Zhu said, the core of 着 is indicating a "state", a "status". Keep this in mind when you see it.
My suggestion is to learn the 2 types of 着 first. Then the third will be easier ;)
老师：look at the blackboard！看黑板！
学生：I`m looking. 我看着呐，我正看着呐。
大约相当ing
‘着’ 这个词代表一个动作的状态，比如“带着”、“坐着” 它代表带的状态和坐的这个状态。
或者提醒某人进入某种状态，比如“看着我”就是要你进入看我的这个状态。
希望对你有帮助！有不理解随时联系，我在学习英语，一起学习！我在网上查了详细解释，如下！
1.表示动作的持续：他打～红旗在前面走。他们正谈～话呢。
2.表示状态的持续：大门敞～。茶几上放～一瓶花。
3.用在动词或表示程度的形容词后面，加强命令或嘱咐的语气：你听～。步子大～点儿。快～点儿写。手可要轻～点儿。
4.加在某些动词后面，使变成介词：顺～。沿～。朝～。照～。为～。
I don't know how to explain this in few words.
Let's take a look at some examples, and see what we can figure out.
1. you are describing a fact.
He always plays the piano in his room. 他总是在他的房间里弹着钢琴。
I usually have lunch at McDonald. 我时常在麦当劳吃着午餐。
2. you are describing something which is happening now
He is playing piano in his room. 他正在他的房间里弹钢琴。
I am having my lunch at McDonald. 我正在麦当劳吃午餐。
My son is preparing for a exam. 我的儿子正在准备一场考试。
And one more to compare examples above:
I am waiting for my brother.
我正在等我弟弟。(My brother will come back in minutes or hours.)
我等着我的弟弟。(My brother could never come back, or I am waiting for my parents to give me a brother.)
Same translation, different meaning.
3. use "着" as a chinese particle
Please help me to hold this. 请帮我拿着这个。
3-1. "着" is sometimes interchangeable with "正在". It depends on the tone and mood you want to express.
She is hugging me.
她抱着我。more romantic
她正在抱我。not very romantic
I was looking at my phone.
我当时看着手机... and blah blah blah。There are something you want to say after it.
我当时正在看手机。You are emphasizing what you were doing is looking at your phone.
Hope this helps you.
