‘叼着’ is a verb phrase meaning ‘to hold (something) in one’s mouth’, emphasizing an ongoing, temporary action — the ‘-zhe’ suffix marks the continuative aspect, indicating the object remains held in the mouth without being swallowed or dropped. The character ‘叼’ specifically describes using teeth and lips to grasp and carry something lightly, often associated with animals (e.g., dogs carrying sticks or birds carrying twigs), though it can also describe humans in informal or figurative contexts (e.g., holding a cigarette). Unlike general verbs like ‘拿’ (to hold), ‘叼’ implies the mouth is the sole means of support and suggests casualness, instinctiveness, or even playfulness.

This phrase is commonly used in descriptive narration, storytelling, or vivid scene-setting — especially when depicting animal behavior, childhood memories, or relaxed, unselfconscious actions. It carries a slightly colloquial, visual tone and rarely appears in formal writing. Because ‘着’ here is a structural particle (not the verb ‘zháo’), learners should avoid mispronouncing it as ‘zháo’ or interpreting it as ‘to catch’ or ‘to realize’.