Deciding What to Bring | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Deciding What to Bring to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我应该带什么？

Wǒ yīnggāi dài shénme? What should I bring with me?

请带一条小毯子。

Qǐng dài yì tiáo xiǎo tǎnzi. Please bring a small blanket.

我们也需要带饮料吗？

Wǒmen yě xūyào dài yǐnliào ma? Do we need drinks too?

有冷饮就好了。

Yǒu lěngyǐn jiù hǎo le. A cold drink would be nice.

我可以带几个杯子。

Wǒ kěyǐ dài jǐ ge bēizi. I can bring some cups.

那会很有用，谢谢。我们可以一起用。

Nà huì hěn yǒuyòng, xièxie. Wǒmen kěyǐ yìqǐ yòng. That would help, thanks. We can share them.

它们可以放进我的包里。

Tāmen kěyǐ fàngjìn wǒ de bāo lǐ. They can fit in my bag.

那我们就准备好了。

Nà wǒmen jiù zhǔnbèi hǎo le. Then we're ready.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker as “I” or “me”; here it is the subject in “我应该带什么？”. It commonly comes before the action being described, as in “我可以带几个杯子”. You use it when talking about your own action or responsibility.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “我应该带什么？”, asking what the speaker is expected or advised to bring. It comes before the action word “带”. Use it when asking for or giving guidance about what someone ought to do.

带 “带” means “bring” in “我应该带什么？” and “请带一条小毯子”. The thing being brought follows it, such as “一条小毯子” or “几个杯子”. Use it when discussing what someone should take along to a place.

什么 “什么” means “what” in “我应该带什么？”. It appears in the position where the unknown item would normally appear, after “带”. Use it when asking which thing someone should bring or do.

请 “请” makes “请带一条小毯子” a polite request: “Please bring a small blanket.” It comes at the beginning of this request, before “带”. Use it when asking another person to do something politely.

条 “条” is the measure word used with “毯子” in “一条小毯子”. It links the quantity “一” to the blanket noun. Use the same number-plus-measure-word structure when counting an item that takes this measure word.

小 “小” means “small” in “一条小毯子”. It comes before “毯子” to describe the blanket’s size. Use it before a noun when specifying that the thing is small.

毯子 “毯子” means “blanket” in “一条小毯子”. In the dialogue, it is the item that the listener is asked to bring. Use it when discussing a blanket needed for a shared outing or another activity.

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us”; it refers to the speakers together in “我们也需要带饮料吗？” and “我们可以一起用”. It appears before the action or need being discussed. Use it when referring to an action shared by the speaker and other people.

也 “也” means “also” or “too” in “我们也需要带饮料吗？”. It comes before “需要” and adds drinks to the items already being considered. Use it to add another person, item, or action to the situation.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我们也需要带饮料吗？”. Here it is followed by “带饮料”, showing what is needed. Use it before an item or action that is necessary for a plan.

饮料 “饮料” means “drinks” or “beverages” in “带饮料”. It is the thing being considered as another item to bring. Use it after an action such as “带” when talking about bringing drinks.

吗 “吗” turns “我们也需要带饮料吗？” into a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence. Use it after a statement when checking whether it is true or needed.

有 “有” introduces the availability or existence of “冷饮” in “有冷饮就好了”. The whole expression says that having a cold drink would be nice. Use it when saying that something is available or present.

冷饮 “冷饮” means “a cold drink” in “有冷饮就好了”. It is the thing whose availability is being discussed after “有”. Use it when talking about a cold beverage in a situation where refreshments are wanted.

就 In “有冷饮就好了”, “就” connects the situation of having a cold drink with the resulting evaluation that it would be nice. It helps form the pattern “有” something “就” a result or response. Use this pattern when one condition would make the situation satisfactory.

好 “好” contributes the meaning “good” or “nice” in “好了”. Here it is part of the whole expression “有冷饮就好了”, meaning that having a cold drink would be nice. Use it with the surrounding words to describe a favorable state or result.

了 “了” marks a changed or resulting state in “好了” and “准备好了”. In “准备好了”, it shows that the preparation has reached a ready state. Use it after an expression when emphasizing that the situation has now become or reached that state.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “be able to” in “我可以带几个杯子” and “我们可以一起用”. It comes before the action, such as “带” or “一起用”. Use it when offering an ability or saying that an action is possible.

个 “个” is the general measure word in “几个杯子”. It comes after “几” and before “杯子” to express an unspecified number of cups. Use it in the pattern number word plus “个” plus noun when this general measure word is appropriate.

杯子 “杯子” means “cup” in “几个杯子”. It is the item the speaker offers to bring and the item later referred to by “它们”. Use it when discussing cups needed for sharing a drink.

那 “那” points back to the preceding situation in “那会很有用”, referring to bringing the cups, and it introduces a conclusion in “那我们就准备好了”. Depending on the sentence, it can mean “that” or “then/in that case”. Use it to connect a previous fact or offer with the next response.

会 “会” expresses an expected result in “那会很有用”, meaning that would be helpful. It comes before “很有用”, the result being predicted or evaluated. Use it when saying what is likely to happen or how a situation would turn out.

很 “很” intensifies “有用” in “很有用”, giving the meaning “very useful” or “very helpful”. It comes before the describing expression. Use it to strengthen an evaluation of how useful something is.

有用 “有用” means “useful” or “helpful” in “那会很有用”. It describes the value of bringing the cups for the shared activity. Use it after “很” when evaluating whether something provides practical help.

谢谢 “谢谢” means “thanks” in “那会很有用，谢谢”. It is a standalone polite expression after acknowledging someone’s helpful offer. Use it when thanking another person for help or for agreeing to do something.

一起 “一起” means “together” in “我们可以一起用”. It shows that the speakers will perform the action jointly. Use it before an action when people share that action.

用 “用” means “use” in “我们可以一起用”, referring from context to using the cups together. It follows “一起” here and expresses the action being shared. Use it with the thing being used when that object needs to be stated.

它们 “它们” means “they” or “them” for things, referring to the items that can go into the bag in “它们可以放进我的包里”. It comes before “可以” and the action. Use it to refer back to multiple non-human objects.

放进 “放进” means “put into” or, in “它们可以放进我的包里”, “fit into”. It describes movement into the inside of a place, with “我的包里” giving the destination. Use the pattern of an item plus “放进” plus a place ending in “里” when discussing putting or fitting something inside.

的 “的” links “我” and “包” in “我的包里”, making the meaning “my bag”. It follows the person or possessor and comes before the noun. Use the pattern person plus “的” plus noun to show possession.

包 “包” means “bag” in “我的包里”. It is the place or container that the items can fit into. Use it with a location word such as “里” when specifying the inside of the bag.

里 “里” means “inside” or “in” in “包里”. It follows “包” and identifies the inside area as the location. Use it after a place or container when saying that something is inside it.

准备 “准备” describes being prepared or ready in “准备好了”. Together with “好” and “了”, it says that the outing preparations have reached a ready state. Use it when confirming that the necessary preparations are complete.

Grammar Points

那 + 几个 + 名词

那几个杯子

Nà jǐ ge bēizi

those few cups

Chinese places the demonstrative before the quantity phrase and noun: 那 + 几个 + 杯子.

也 + 动词

也需要冷饮

Yě xūyào lěngyǐn

also need cold drinks

也 usually comes before the verb to mean “also” or “too.”

Chinese Vocabulary

带 verb

dài to bring

好 adj

hǎo good; nice

就 adv

jiù then; just

冷饮 noun

lěngyǐn cold drink

请 verb

qǐng please

什么 pron

shénme what

毯子 noun

tǎnzi blanket

小 adj

xiǎo small

需要 verb

xūyào to need

也 adv

yě also; too

饮料 noun

yǐnliào drink; beverage

有 verb

yǒu to have; there is

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

what

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什么

to need

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需要

blanket

Show Answer

毯子

drink; beverage

Show Answer

饮料