About This Lesson
Use Finding the restroom during a break to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
休息多长时间？
xiūxi duō cháng shíjiān? How long is the break?
B
休息时间是十分钟。
xiūxi shíjiān shì shí fēnzhōng. The break is ten minutes long.
A
洗手间在哪里？
xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? Where is the restroom?
B
走出房间，然后向右转。
zǒu chū fángjiān, ránhòu xiàng yòu zhuǎn. Go out of the room and turn right.
A
我想我可以找到洗手间。
wǒ xiǎng wǒ kěyǐ zhǎodào xǐshǒujiān. I think I can find it.
B
上课再次开始前，我会在这里等。
shàngkè zàicì kāishǐ qián, wǒ huì zài zhèlǐ děng. I will wait here before class starts again.Word by Word
休息
In this dialogue, 休息 refers to the break or to taking a break, as in 休息多长时间 and 休息时间. A common reuse is the new example 休息一下, meaning “take a short break.” Use it when talking about a pause from class or work.
多长
多长 asks how long something is, specifically in the question 休息多长时间？. It is used before 时间 when asking about duration. Use 多长时间 when asking someone how long a class, break, or activity lasts.
时间
时间 means time or duration in 休息时间, the period of the break. In 休息多长时间, it helps ask about the length of that period. Use it when discussing how much time an activity or event takes.
是
是 links the break period with its duration in 休息时间是十分钟, stating what the duration is. A reliable pattern is X是Y, as in 休息时间是十分钟. Use it when giving simple information about what something is or how long it is.
分钟
分钟 is the unit minute in 十分钟, which gives the length of the break. Use a number before 分钟 to state a duration, such as the new example 五分钟. It is useful when answering questions about the length of a break or activity.
洗手间
洗手间 means restroom in 洗手间在哪里？ and 我可以找到洗手间. It names the place the speaker wants to locate. Use it when asking for or giving directions to a restroom in a school, workplace, or public building.
在
在 shows a location in 洗手间在哪里？ and 在这里, indicating where something or someone is located. A common pattern is 在 + place. Use it when saying where a person or thing is, such as waiting at a particular place.
哪里
哪里 means where in 洗手间在哪里？, asking for the restroom’s location. It commonly appears in the pattern X在哪里？. Use it when asking someone to identify the location of a person, place, or thing.
走出
走出 means go or walk out of something, describing movement from inside to outside in 走出房间. A common pattern is 走出 + place; the new example 走出教室 means “walk out of the classroom.” Use it when giving directions inside a building.
房间
房间 means room in 走出房间, the place the listener should leave. It identifies the starting place of the movement described by 走出. Use it when giving directions between rooms or talking about where someone is.
然后
然后 means then and orders the next action in 走出房间，然后向右转. It connects one instruction to the action that follows it. Use the pattern A，然后B when giving step-by-step directions or describing events in sequence.
向
向 points toward a direction in 向右转, showing which way the turn should face. A reliable pattern is 向 + direction + action, as in 向右转. Use it when giving navigation instructions.
右
右 means right in 向右转 and identifies the side or direction for the turn. It appears after 向 in this direction instruction. Use it when telling someone which way to move at a crossing, doorway, or hallway.
转
转 means turn in 向右转, telling someone to change direction. The reusable pattern 向 + direction + 转 keeps the direction before the action. Use it when giving spoken directions to someone who is finding a place.
我
我 refers to the speaker as I or me in 我想我可以找到洗手间 and 我会在这里等. It is commonly placed before the action or statement the speaker is describing. Use it when talking about your own thoughts, abilities, plans, or actions.
想
想 means think in 我想我可以找到洗手间, introducing the speaker’s personal assessment. A common pattern is 我想 + clause, followed here by 我可以找到洗手间. Use it when expressing what you think about a situation or what you believe you can do.
可以
可以 means can or be able to in 我可以找到洗手间, expressing that the speaker believes finding the restroom is possible. It is placed before the action in 可以 + verb. Use it when stating that someone can do something or that an action is possible.
找到
找到 means find or locate in 我可以找到洗手间, referring to successfully locating the restroom. A reliable pattern is 找到 + object, with 洗手间 as the object here; the new example 找到钥匙 means “find the keys.” Use it when talking about locating a person or thing.
上课
上课 refers to class in 上课再次开始前, specifically the lesson resuming after the break. It identifies the activity that will start again. Use it when talking about the time for a lesson or the return to class after a pause.
再次
再次 means again in 上课再次开始, showing that the class will begin one more time after the break. It commonly comes before the action that is repeated, as in 再次开始. Use it when an event resumes or happens another time.
开始
开始 means start or begin in 上课再次开始前, describing the point when class resumes. In 开始前, it names the event that must happen later. Use it when talking about the beginning of a class, meeting, activity, or event.
前
前 means before in 上课再次开始前, placing the waiting action before class starts again. A reliable pattern is event + 前, as in the new example 下课前, “before class ends.” Use it when describing something that happens before a scheduled event.
会
会 expresses will in 我会在这里等, stating the speaker’s future plan to wait there. A common pattern is 我会 + verb, as in 我会在这里等. Use it when telling someone about a planned future action or commitment.
这里
这里 means here and identifies the place where the speaker will wait in 我会在这里等. It commonly follows 在 when describing a location, as in 在这里. Use it when directing someone to the speaker’s current or intended location.
等
等 means wait in 我会在这里等, describing the speaker’s action while waiting for class to start again. It can be used before the person or thing being awaited, as in the new example 等朋友, “wait for a friend.” Use it when arranging to remain somewhere until someone or something happens.
Grammar Points
多长时间
休息多长时间？
xiūxi duō cháng shíjiān?How long is the break?
“多长时间”询问一段时间的长度，常放在动词或名词后面。
然后 + 动作
走出房间，然后向右转。
zǒu chū fángjiān, ránhòu xiàng yòu zhuǎn.Walk out of the room, then turn right.
“然后”连接先后发生的动作，表示“then”或“after that”。
Chinese Vocabulary
多长时间
phrase
duō cháng shíjiān
how long; how much time
休息多长时间?
房间
noun
fángjiān
room
走出房间,然后向右转。
然后
adv
ránhòu
then; after that
走出房间,然后向右转。
十分钟
phrase
shí fēnzhōng
ten minutes
休息时间是十分钟。
我想
phrase
wǒ xiǎng
I think
我想我可以找到洗手间。
洗手间
noun
xǐshǒujiān
restroom
洗手间在哪里?
向右
phrase
xiàng yòu
to the right; toward the right
走出房间,然后向右转。
休息
noun
xiūxi
break; to rest
休息多长时间?
休息时间
noun
xiūxi shíjiān
break time
休息时间是十分钟。
在哪里
phrase
zài nǎlǐ
where; at what place
洗手间在哪里?
转
verb
zhuǎn
to turn
走出房间,然后向右转。
走出
verb
zǒu chū
to walk out of
走出房间,然后向右转。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
how long; how much time
Show Answer
多长时间break time
Show Answer
休息时间ten minutes
Show Answer
十分钟room