(ongoing -ing)着 (zhe) after a verb freezes the action into a lingering state — the door is (standing) open, you are holding it. Think of (ongoing -ing)着 as a clip that keeps the verb "switched on." A second, very common use is Verb 1 + (ongoing -ing)着 + Verb 2: V1(ongoing -ing)着 sets the posture or manner, and V2 is the real action done in that state.
構文: Verb + 着 · Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2
you all你们sit坐着I,我right away马上come back回来。
Stay seated — I'll be right back.
she她likes to喜欢stand站着eat吃饭。
She likes to eat standing up.
he他smiling笑着said说sorry对不起。
Smiling, he said sorry.
Remember: (ongoing -ing)着 = the verb held on, lingering (门开(ongoing -ing)着 = "the door stays open"); for an action actively in progress, use at / in在 (he / him他at / in在to have a meal吃饭). In V1(ongoing -ing)着V2, V1 is the backdrop, V2 the real action — station站(ongoing -ing)着variant of 吃吃 = "eat while standing."
Watch out
- (ongoing -ing)着 is a state, not a play-by-play — pair it with at / in在/in the middle of正在 only when you really mean "is currently …".