Checking a bag before leaving | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: Before leaving, two adults check that a bag has the needed phone, keys, and water bottle..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Checking a bag before leaving to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我们看看我的包准备好了吗?

wǒmen kànkan wǒ de bāo zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma? Can we make sure my bag is ready?
B

先把重要的东西放在桌上。

xiān bǎ zhòngyào de dōngxi fàng zài zhuō shàng. Put the important things on the table first.
A

我的手机在前面的口袋里。

wǒ de shǒujī zài qiánmiàn de kǒudài lǐ. My phone is in the front pocket.
B

你把钥匙放在哪里了?

nǐ bǎ yàoshi fàng zài nǎlǐ le? Where did you put your keys?
A

钥匙在我的手机旁边。

yàoshi zài wǒ de shǒujī pángbiān. They are next to my phone.
B

你还需要你的水瓶吗?

nǐ hái xūyào nǐ de shuǐpíng ma? Do you also need your water bottle?
A

是的,它已经在主口袋里了。

shì de, tā yǐjīng zài zhǔ kǒudài lǐ le. Yes, it is already in the main pocket.
B

那你需要的东西都有了。

nà nǐ xūyào de dōngxi dōu yǒu le. Then you have what you need.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” in “我们看看我的包准备好了吗?”. It refers to the speaker and the person being addressed together. A reusable pattern is “我们 + verb” for suggesting that both people do something, such as “我们看看” (“let’s take a look”).
看看 “看看” means “take a look” or “check” here. The repeated form makes the action sound like a brief check, as in checking whether the bag is ready. A common pattern is “看看 + object”, such as “看看这个” for “take a look at this.”
“我” means “I” in the dialogue and means “my” inside “我的包” because it is followed by “的”. It identifies the speaker as the owner of the bag, phone, and other belongings. The reusable pattern is “我 + 的 + noun” for “my + noun.”
In “我的包”, “的” links “我” to “包” and marks possession, giving the meaning “my bag”. In “需要的东西”, it links “需要” to “东西” and makes “东西” the things that are needed. The pattern “A的B” commonly shows either possession or a description of B by A.
“包” means “bag” in “我的包”. It is the container being checked before leaving. A common reuse pattern is “包里” for “inside the bag”, as in “手机在包里” (“the phone is in the bag”).
准备 “准备” means “prepare” or “get ready” in “包准备好了吗?”. Together with “好”, it describes whether the bag has been made ready. A reusable pattern is “准备 + object”, such as “准备东西” (“prepare things”).
“好” means “ready” or “properly done” in “准备好”. It shows that the preparation has reached the desired result. The pattern “verb + 好” can describe an action completed satisfactorily, as in “放好” (“put away properly”).
In “准备好了吗?”, “了” marks the change to the state of being ready and asks whether that state has been reached. It is part of the question about the bag’s current condition, not simply a past-time marker. A reusable pattern is “verb + 好 + 了吗?” when checking whether something is ready.
“吗” turns “准备好了吗?” into a yes-or-no question. It appears at the end of the sentence and asks whether the bag is ready. A common pattern is “statement + 吗?” for a simple question expecting a yes-or-no answer.
“先” means “first” in “先把重要的东西放在桌上”. It tells the listener to do this step before the other checking steps. A reusable pattern is “先 + verb” when giving the first action in a sequence.
“把” introduces “重要的东西” as the object being handled in “把重要的东西放在桌上”. It presents the sentence from the perspective of moving or placing that object. A useful pattern is “把 + object + verb + place”, as in “把书放在桌上” (“put the book on the table”).
重要 “重要” means “important” in “重要的东西”. It describes which things should be placed on the table first. The reusable pattern is “重要的 + noun”, such as “重要的文件” (“important documents”).
东西 “东西” means “things” or “objects” in “重要的东西”. It refers generally to the belongings needed for the bag rather than naming one specific item. A common pattern is “一些东西” for “some things.”
“放” means “put” or “place” in “放在桌上”. It describes moving the important things to a location. A reusable pattern is “放在 + place” for putting something in or at a place.
In “放在桌上”, “在” connects the placing action with the destination, meaning “at” or “on” the table. It also appears in “在前面的口袋里” and “在主口袋里” to locate items. The common pattern is “在 + place” when stating where something is.
“桌” means “table” in “桌上”. The form “桌上” means “on the table”, with “上” specifying the position. A reusable pattern is “桌上有 + noun” for saying that something is on the table.
“上” means “on” in “桌上”. Together, “桌上” identifies the surface where the important things should be placed. A common location pattern is “noun + 上”, such as “椅子上” for “on the chair.”
手机 “手机” means “mobile phone” in “我的手机”. It is one of the belongings being checked in the bag. A common pattern is “手机在 + place” for saying where the phone is.
前面 “前面” means “front” in “前面的口袋”. It identifies the pocket located toward the front. The reusable pattern is “place + 的 + noun”, such as “前面的门” for “the front door.”
口袋 “口袋” means “pocket” in “前面的口袋里” and “主口袋里”. It names the part of the bag where an item is located. A common pattern is “口袋里有 + noun” for saying that something is in a pocket.
“里” means “inside” in “口袋里”. It shows that the phone or water bottle is located within the pocket. The reusable pattern is “place + 里”, such as “包里” for “inside the bag.”
“你” means “you” in “你把钥匙放在哪里了?” and “你还需要你的水瓶吗?”. It refers to the person being asked about their keys and water bottle. A common pattern is “你 + verb” when asking or telling the other person about an action.
钥匙 “钥匙” means “keys” in “你的钥匙” and is the item whose location is being checked. The dialogue later refers to the same item in “钥匙在我的手机旁边”. A reusable pattern is “钥匙在 + place” for saying where the keys are.
哪里 “哪里” means “where” in “你把钥匙放在哪里了?”. It asks for the place where the keys were put. A common pattern is “把 + object + 放在哪里?” when asking where someone placed an object.
旁边 “旁边” means “next to” or “beside” in “我的手机旁边”. It identifies the phone as the nearby reference point for the keys. A reusable pattern is “A的旁边” for “next to A”, such as “桌子的旁边” (“next to the table”).
“还” means “also” or “in addition” in “你还需要你的水瓶吗?”. It asks whether the water bottle is another item the person needs besides the items already discussed. A common pattern is “还需要 + noun” when asking whether one more thing is needed.
需要 “需要” means “need” in “你还需要你的水瓶吗?” and “你需要的东西”. In the second expression, it describes the things that are needed. A reusable pattern is “需要 + object”, such as “需要帮助” (“need help”).
水瓶 “水瓶” means “water bottle” in “你的水瓶”. It is the additional item checked before leaving. A common pattern is “水瓶在 + place” for saying where the water bottle is.
“是的” means “yes” in the reply “是的,它已经在主口袋里了”. Here “是的” confirms the question rather than identifying one thing as another. A common response pattern is “是的,+ statement” when confirming information.
“它” means “it” in “它已经在主口袋里了”. It refers back to the water bottle mentioned in the previous question. A reusable pattern is “它在 + place” for saying where a previously mentioned object is.
已经 “已经” means “already” in “它已经在主口袋里了”. It shows that the water bottle is in the main pocket before the current check. A common pattern is “已经 + verb” or “已经在 + place” when emphasizing that something has happened or is already in a location.
“主” means “main” or “primary” in “主口袋”. It distinguishes this pocket as the bag’s main pocket. The reusable pattern is “主 + noun” when identifying the primary one of something, such as “主入口” (“main entrance”).
“那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那你需要的东西都有了”. It draws a conclusion from the fact that the needed items have been found. A common pattern is “那 + conclusion” when responding to information and stating what follows.
“都” means “all” in “你需要的东西都有了”. It applies to the things that are needed and says that the complete set is present. A reusable pattern is “subject + 都 + verb” when the verb applies to all members of the subject.
“有” means “have” in “你需要的东西都有了”. It says that the needed things are present or available, so nothing essential is missing. A common pattern is “有 + noun” for saying that someone has something or that something is present.

Grammar Points

已经……了

我们已经都有了。

wǒmen yǐjīng dōu yǒu le.

We already have everything we need.

已经表示“already”; 了 shows that the situation is now complete or has changed.

前面的 + noun

前面的口袋

qiánmiàn de kǒudài

the front pocket

Chinese modifiers come before the noun. 的 links 前面 to 口袋, unlike English word order.

Chinese Vocabulary

noun
bāo bag
东西 noun
dōngxi thing; things
放在 phrase
fàng zài put on; place in
看看 verb
kànkan take a look; check
口袋 noun
kǒudài pocket
前面的 adj
qiánmiàn de front; front-side
手机 noun
shǒujī mobile phone
我们 pron
wǒmen we; us
adv
xiān first
重要 adj
zhòngyào important
准备好 adj
zhǔnbèi hǎo ready; be prepared
桌上 noun
zhuō shàng on the table

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

pocket

Show Answer口袋

take a look; check

Show Answer看看

thing; things

Show Answer东西

on the table

Show Answer桌上