地点 + 动词 + 着 + 人／东西
there is / are … (sitting, standing, placed) somewhere
Structure
地点 + 动词 + 着 + 数量 + 名词
What it means
A lively way to say “there is / are …” and how it is there: 门口站着两个孩子 “Two children are standing at the door.”
How it is built
Place + verb + 着 + number + noun: 桌子上放着一杯茶 (There’s a cup of tea on the table). The verb shows how: 站 standing, 坐 sitting, 放 put, 写 written.
When to use it
Use it to describe a scene, instead of plain 有 (h1-7). The person or thing is new to the listener, so it usually has a number or 很多: 树下坐着几个老人.
Watch out
Start with the place, not the people. ✗ 两个孩子站着门口。 ✓ 门口站着两个孩子。 or 两个孩子站在门口。
Examples
门口站着两个孩子。
Two children are standing at the door.
树下坐着几个老人。
A few old people are sitting under the tree.
桌子上放着一杯茶。
There’s a cup of tea on the table.
墙上写着四个字。
There are four characters written on the wall.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 12: 在公园里找人 (Finding someone in the park)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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