Twig　query,　also　known　as　tree　pattern　query　(TPQ),　is　considered　as　the　core　operation　of　XML　data　queries.　However,　a　complex　XML　query　described　by　XQuery　often　cannot　be　represented　by　a　single　basic　TPQ.　Aiming　at　XQuery　language,　this　paper　presents　a　multi-layer　tree　pattern　representation　method,　named　MTP,　and　a　matching　algorithm　MLTwig,　which　can　effectively　use　intermediate　results　of　outer　query　to　match　inner　tree　pattern　in　MTP　based　on　a　novel　data　structure,　WTree,　thereby　saving　time　and　space.　Experimental　results　show　that　this　algorithm　can　improve　the　processing　efficiency　for　XQuery　expression　which　can　be　represented　by　MTP.