Organizing a Bag | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Organizing a Bag to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我的眼镜在这个包里吗？

wǒ de yǎnjìng zài zhè ge bāo lǐ ma? Are my glasses in this bag?

它们在侧袋里。

tāmen zài cè dài lǐ. They're in the side pocket.

我还需要我的笔记本。

wǒ hái xūyào wǒ de bǐjìběn. I need my notebook too.

它在你的雨伞下面。

tā zài nǐ de yǔsǎn xiàmiàn. It's under your umbrella.

我可以移动雨伞吗？

wǒ kěyǐ yídòng yǔsǎn ma? Can I move the umbrella?

把它放在提手旁边，这样它就不会碍事。

bǎ tā fàng zài tíshǒu pángbiān, zhèyàng tā jiù bú huì ài shì. Put it by the handle so it stays out of the way.

我现在就整理这个包。

wǒ xiànzài jiù zhěnglǐ zhè ge bāo. I'll organize the bag now.

这样找东西会更容易。

zhèyàng zhǎo dōngxi huì gèng róngyì. Then it will be easier to find things.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in the dialogue, referring to the speaker. It appears in “我的眼镜” and “我还需要我的笔记本”, before information about the speaker or what the speaker needs. Use “我” when talking about yourself in everyday conversation.

的 In “我的眼镜”, “的” links “我” to “眼镜” and marks possession, meaning “my”. The pattern is possessive owner plus “的” plus noun, as in “我的笔记本”. Use it when identifying something as belonging to someone.

眼镜 “眼镜” means “glasses”, the item the speaker is looking for in “我的眼镜”. It is used here as the thing whose location is being asked about. Use “眼镜” when referring to glasses as an everyday object.

在 “在” shows the location of something: in “我的眼镜在这个包里吗？”, it asks whether the glasses are located in the bag. A reusable pattern is subject plus “在” plus place, such as “它在侧袋里”. Use it to ask or state where an object is.

这 “这” means “this” in “这个包”, pointing to the bag near the speaker or in the current situation. It comes before the measure word “个” and the noun “包”. Use “这” when identifying a nearby or currently relevant thing.

个 “个” is the general measure word in “这个包”, between “这” and “包”. The reusable pattern is “这” plus “个” plus a noun when referring to one particular item. Use it here to identify one bag.

包 “包” means “bag” in “这个包里” and “整理这个包”. In “这个包里”, it names the container where the glasses are being searched for. Use “包” for a bag that holds or carries things.

里 “里” means “inside” in “这个包里” and “侧袋里”. It follows a place such as “包” or “侧袋” to show that something is located inside it. Use the pattern place plus “里” when locating an object within a container.

吗 “吗” turns “我的眼镜在这个包里” into the yes-no question “我的眼镜在这个包里吗？”. It comes at the end of the question. Use “吗” when asking for a yes-or-no answer.

它们 “它们” means “they” or “them” for the glasses in “它们在侧袋里”. It refers back to the glasses and identifies them as the objects whose location is being given. Use “它们” when referring to multiple things rather than people.

侧袋 “侧袋” means “side pocket”, the location given for the glasses in “它们在侧袋里”. It combines with “里” to mean inside the side pocket. Use “侧袋” when identifying a pocket on the side of a bag or similar item.

还 “还” means “also” or “in addition” in “我还需要我的笔记本”. It shows that needing the notebook is an additional need after the glasses have been discussed. Use “还” before a verb or need to add another item or action.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我还需要我的笔记本”. It is followed by the needed object, “我的笔记本”. Use the pattern “需要” plus an object when saying that something is necessary or wanted.

笔记本 “笔记本” means “notebook” in “我的笔记本”. It is the item the speaker also needs and the item later referred to by “它”. Use “笔记本” for a notebook used for writing or notes.

它 “它” means “it” and refers to the notebook in “它在你的雨伞下面”. It is used for a single thing, not a person, whose location is being explained. Use “它” when referring back to one object already mentioned.

你 “你” means “you” in “你的雨伞”. Together with “的”, it identifies the umbrella as belonging to the person being addressed. Use “你” when speaking directly to one person.

雨伞 “雨伞” means “umbrella” in “你的雨伞下面” and “移动雨伞”. It is first used as the object under which the notebook is located and then as the object that may be moved. Use “雨伞” when referring to an umbrella.

下面 “下面” means “under” or “below” in “你的雨伞下面”. It identifies the lower location relative to the umbrella. Use the pattern object plus “下面” to describe something positioned underneath it.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “我可以移动雨伞吗？”, asking whether moving the umbrella is permitted or possible. It comes before the action “移动” in this question. Use “可以” plus a verb to ask for permission or say that an action is possible.

移动 “移动” means “move” in “移动雨伞”, referring to changing the umbrella’s position. It follows “可以” in the permission question “我可以移动雨伞吗？”. Use “移动” with an object when asking or saying that its position will change.

把 “把” marks the object being deliberately handled in “把它放在提手旁边”. It places “它”, the object to be put somewhere, before the verb “放”. A reusable pattern is “把” plus object plus verb plus location, used when describing what is done to an object.

放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “把它放在提手旁边”. It describes placing the object in a specified location, here beside the handle. Use “放” with a location when telling someone where to place something.

提手 “提手” means “handle” in “提手旁边”. It is the reference point beside which the object should be placed. Use “提手” when referring to the part used to carry a bag or similar object.

旁边 “旁边” means “beside” or “next to” in “提手旁边”. It gives the placement location for the object after “放”. Use the pattern reference object plus “旁边” to say that something is next to it.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “so” in “这样它就不会碍事”. It refers to the placement just described and introduces its intended result. Use “这样” to connect an action or arrangement with a consequence.

就 “就” marks the consequence in “这样它就不会碍事”, meaning that, with this arrangement, the result will follow. It commonly appears after a condition or setup such as “这样”. Use “这样” plus a result with “就” when explaining what an arrangement will achieve.

不 “不” negates the result in “不会碍事”, meaning the object will not cause a problem. It appears before “会” and the verb-like expression “碍事”. Use “不” before a verb or similar expression to make the statement negative.

会 “会” means “will” in “不会碍事”, describing the expected result of putting the object beside the handle. Together with “不”, it says that the object will not get in the way. Use “会” before an action or result when describing what is expected to happen.

碍事 “碍事” means “cause inconvenience” or “get in the way” in “不会碍事”. It describes an object becoming a problem for using or organizing the bag. Use “碍事” when something interferes with an activity or occupies an inconvenient position.

现在 “现在” means “now” in “我现在就整理这个包”. It places the organizing action at the present time. Use “现在” with an action when saying that it is happening or will happen at this moment.

整理 “整理” means “organize” or “tidy” in “整理这个包”. It describes arranging the bag and its contents so they are easier to find. Use “整理” with an object such as a bag, room, or group of items when putting it in order.

找 “找” means “look for” or “find” in “找东西”. It describes searching for items, which becomes easier after the bag is organized. Use “找” with an object, such as “找东西”, when searching for or trying to locate something.

东西 “东西” means “things” or “items” in “找东西”. It refers generally to the belongings in the bag rather than to one named object. Use “东西” when talking about unspecified physical items.

更 “更” means “more” in “更容易”, making the description comparative: finding things will be more easy than before. It comes before the adjective “容易”. Use “更” before an adjective when comparing a situation with an earlier or different one.

容易 “容易” means “easy” in “更容易”, describing the improved ease of finding things after organizing the bag. It follows “更” here to mean “easier”. Use “容易” with an action to describe how easy that action is.

Grammar Points

还 + 动词

还需要笔记本。

hái xūyào bǐjìběn.

I still need a notebook.

还放在动词前面，表示“still”或“also”。

放在 + 地点

放在提手旁边。

fàng zài tíshǒu pángbiān.

Place it beside the handle.

放在后面接地点，表示把东西放到某个位置。

Chinese Vocabulary

包 noun

bāo bag

笔记本 noun

bǐjìběn notebook

侧袋 noun

cè dài side pocket

放在 verb

fàng zài put in; place at

还 adv

hái also; still

旁边 noun

pángbiān beside; next to

提手 noun

tíshǒu handle

需要 verb

xūyào need

眼镜 noun

yǎnjìng glasses

移动 verb

yídòng move

雨伞 noun

yǔsǎn umbrella

这个 det

zhè ge this

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

side pocket

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侧袋

this

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这个

glasses

Show Answer

眼镜

put in; place at

Show Answer

放在