About This Lesson
Use Changing a Chair's Height to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
这把椅子太低了。
Zhè bǎ yǐzi tài dī le. This chair is too low.
B
你可以调节高度。
Nǐ kěyǐ tiáojié gāodù. You can change the height.
A
我怎么做？
Wǒ zěnme zuò? How do I do that?
B
按座位下面的按钮。
Àn zuòwèi xiàmiàn de ànniǔ. Press the button under the seat.
A
这样好多了。谢谢。
Zhèyàng hǎo duō le. Xièxie. That is better. Thank you.
B
如果还是不合适，就告诉我。
Rúguǒ háishi bú héshì, jiù gàosu wǒ. Tell me if it is still not right.Word by Word
这
“这” means “this” and points to the chair being discussed in “这把椅子”. It commonly comes before a classifier and noun, as in “这把椅子”, when identifying something nearby or already in view.
把
“把” is the classifier used for the chair in “这把椅子”. It commonly appears between a demonstrative or number and the noun for a chair or another item with a handle or a similar shape.
椅子
“椅子” means “chair” in “这把椅子”. You can reuse it after a classifier, as in “这把椅子”, when talking about a particular chair.
太
“太” means “too” in “太低了”, showing that the chair’s height is beyond what is suitable. It commonly appears before an adjective in a pattern such as “太低了” to describe an excessive degree.
低
“低” means “low” in “这把椅子太低了”, describing the chair’s height. It can follow a subject and be modified by “太”, as in “椅子太低了”, when reporting an unsuitable height.
了
“了” in “这把椅子太低了” indicates that the situation is now recognized as being in this state: the chair is too low. It commonly appears at the end of a description when a current situation or changed state is being pointed out.
你
“你” means “you” in “你可以调节高度”, referring to the person being advised. It commonly comes before a modal expression such as “你可以” when telling someone what they are able or allowed to do.
可以
“可以” means “can” in “你可以调节高度”, giving permission or indicating that the person is able to adjust the height. It commonly comes before an action, as in “可以调节高度”.
调节
“调节” means “adjust” in “调节高度”, referring to changing the chair’s height to a more suitable level. It commonly comes before the thing being adjusted, as in “调节高度”.
高度
“高度” means “height” in “调节高度”, the property of the chair that can be changed. It commonly follows an action such as “调节” when naming what is being adjusted.
我
“我” means “I” in “我怎么做？”, referring to the speaker who wants to perform the adjustment. It commonly comes before “怎么做” when asking how the speaker should carry out an action.
怎么
“怎么” means “how” in “我怎么做？”, asking for the way to perform the action. It commonly comes before a verb, as in “怎么做”, when asking how to do something.
做
“做” means “do” in “我怎么做？”, referring to carrying out the adjustment just mentioned. It commonly follows “怎么” in the reusable question pattern “怎么做”.
按
“按” means “press” in “按座位下面的按钮”, giving the physical action needed to adjust the chair. It commonly comes before the object being pressed, as in “按按钮”.
座位
“座位” means “seat” in “座位下面的按钮”, identifying the part of the chair used as the location reference. It commonly combines with a location word, as in “座位下面”, to describe where something is.
下面
“下面” means “under” or “below” in “座位下面的按钮”, locating the button beneath the seat. It commonly follows a noun and comes before “的” in a location phrase such as “座位下面的按钮”.
的
“的” links the location phrase “座位下面” to the noun “按钮” in “座位下面的按钮”. This pattern lets a location phrase describe which object is being identified.
按钮
“按钮” means “button” in “按座位下面的按钮”, the object that should be pressed. It commonly follows “按” when giving an instruction about pressing a button.
这样
“这样” means “this way” or “like this” in “这样好多了”, referring to the chair after the adjustment. It commonly comes before a description when commenting on the result of an action just demonstrated or completed.
好多
“好多” in “这样好多了” means “much better”, describing a clear improvement after the chair was adjusted. It commonly appears before the final “了” in this expression to show that the situation has improved.
谢谢
“谢谢” means “thank you” in the speaker’s response after receiving help. It is commonly used by itself to thank someone for an instruction or practical assistance.
如果
“如果” means “if” in “如果还是不合适”, introducing the condition that the chair may remain unsuitable. It commonly starts a conditional clause before the result or instruction that follows.
还是
“还是” means “still” in “如果还是不合适”, showing that the chair may remain unsuitable after the adjustment. It commonly appears before a description in a condition such as “还是不合适”.
不
“不” makes “合适” negative in “还是不合适”, meaning that the chair is still not suitable. It commonly comes directly before the word or expression being negated, as in “不合适”.
合适
“合适” means “right” or “suitable” in “还是不合适”, describing whether the chair’s height works for the person. It commonly follows “不” in “不合适” when saying that something is not suitable.
就
“就” means “then” in “就告诉我”, linking the condition to the requested action. It commonly follows an “如果” clause and introduces what should happen if that condition is true.
告诉
“告诉” means “tell” in “告诉我”, asking the learner to give the speaker information. It commonly takes the person receiving the information after it, as in “告诉我”.
Grammar Points
太 + 形容词
椅子太低。
Yǐzi tài dī.The chair is too low.
太 comes before an adjective to show that something exceeds the suitable or desired degree.
怎么 + 动词
怎么调节高度？
Zěnme tiáojié gāodù?How do you adjust the height?
怎么 comes before a verb to ask about the way or method of doing something.
Chinese Vocabulary
按
verb
àn
press
按钮
noun
ànniǔ
button
低
adj
dī
low
调节
verb
tiáojié
adjust
高度
noun
gāodù
height
太
adv
tài
too; overly
下面
noun
xiàmiàn
under; underneath
椅子
noun
yǐzi
chair
怎么
adv
zěnme
how
这样
adv
zhèyàng
this way; like this
座位
noun
zuòwèi
seat
做
verb
zuò
do
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
how
Show Answer
怎么under; underneath
Show Answer
下面chair
Show Answer
椅子this way; like this