"Verbing away" with 著着 zhe

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Grammar Point:
A repeated verb followed by the particle 著着 zhe indicates that an action has been ongoing for a period of time, leading to a new situation that the speaker wants to comment on.

Verb₁ + 著着 zhe + Verb₂

It is used to indicate two actions happening at the same time, with the first action being the accompanying state or manner of the second action. In this construction, the second action is considered the main action.

他tā看kàn著zhe電視diànshì講jiǎng電話diànhuà他tā看kàn着zhe电视diànshì讲jiǎng电话diànhuà
He is watching TV while talking on the phone.
(Talking on the phone is more important than watching TV.)

姐姐jiějiě坐zuò著zhe看書kànshū姐姐jiějiě坐zuò着zhe看书kànshū
Sister is sitting and reading a book.
(Reading book is the main verb)

他tā唱chàng著zhe歌gē上shàng廁所cèsuǒ他tā唱chàng着zhe歌gē上shàng厕所cèsuǒ
He is singing a song while pooping.
(Pooping is the main verb)

V + 著着 + V + 著着 + 就 …了

This 了le is 了2. It indicates there is a new action or state while you are doing an activity. Remember these 2 verbs must be the same verb.

姐姐jiějie看kàn著zhe看kàn著zhe就jiù睡shuì了le姐姐jiějie看kàn着zhe看kàn着zhe就jiù睡shuì了le
My sister fell asleep while reading.

他tā說shuō著zhe說shuō著zhe就jiù哭kū了le他tā说shuō着zhe说shuō着zhe就jiù哭kū了le
He starts to cry while talking.

S + 是 + V + 著着 + 玩的

It means the action of a verb is just for fun and doesn’t need to be serious.

我wǒ是shì說shuō著zhe玩wán的de，我wǒ怎麼zěnme可能kěnéng真的zhēnde生shēng10 個ge孩子háizi我wǒ是shì说shuō着zhe玩wán的de，我wǒ怎么zěnme可能kěnéng真的zhēnde生shēng10 个ge孩子háizi
I was joking! how could I really have 10 children.

中文zhōngwén我wǒ不是búshì學xué著zhe玩wán的de，我wǒ是shì真的zhēnde準備zhǔnbèi要yào去qù中國Zhōngguó中文zhōngwén我wǒ不是búshì学xué着zhe玩wán的de，我wǒ是shì真的zhēnde准备zhǔnbèi要yào去qù中国Zhōngguó
I am not learning Chinese for fun, I am really preparing to go to China.