About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a Book in a Quiet Library to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
这个图书馆很安静。
Zhège túshūguǎn hěn ānjìng. This library is very quiet.
B
我们说话小声一点，这样大家可以学习。
Wǒmen shuōhuà xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn, zhèyàng dàjiā kěyǐ xuéxí. We keep our voices low so people can study.
A
我想借这本书。
Wǒ xiǎng jiè zhè běn shū. I want to borrow this book.
B
我可以在服务台帮你借这本书。
Wǒ kěyǐ zài fúwùtái bāng nǐ jiè zhè běn shū. I can check it out for you at the desk.
A
我应该在哪里还这本书？
Wǒ yīnggāi zài nǎlǐ huán zhè běn shū? Where should I return it?
B
看完后把它带回服务台。
Kàn wán hòu bǎ tā dài huí fúwùtái. Bring it back to the desk when you are finished.
A
窗边的座位看起来很舒服。
Chuāngbiān de zuòwèi kàn qǐlái hěn shūfu. The window seat looks comfortable.
B
你可以坐在那里，在离开前读书。
Nǐ kěyǐ zuò zài nàlǐ, zài líkāi qián dúshū. You can sit there and read before you leave.Word by Word
这个
这个 means “this” and refers to the library in 这个图书馆. It comes before the classifier and noun, as in 这个图书馆. Use it when pointing out a nearby or currently discussed thing, such as when describing a place.
图书馆
图书馆 means “library” in this dialogue. It is the noun after 这个 in 这个图书馆 and is the place where people borrow and read books. Use it when talking about a library or its services.
很
很 expresses a high degree in 很安静, describing the library as very quiet. It comes before the quality being described, as in 很安静. Use it when describing how strongly something has a quality.
安静
安静 means “quiet” in 这个图书馆很安静. It describes the library’s sound level after 很. Use it when describing a quiet place or environment.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” and is the subject of 我们说话小声一点. It comes before the action or behavior being described. Use it when including yourself and other people in a statement or request.
说话
说话 means “speak” or “talk” in 我们说话小声一点. Here it identifies the behavior that should be quieter. Use it before a description of how someone speaks, especially when discussing voice level.
小声
小声 means “in a quiet voice” in 说话小声一点. It describes the manner of speaking and is followed by 一点 to make the request gentler. Use it when asking people to lower their voices.
一点
一点 means “a little” in 小声一点, asking for a small adjustment to the speaking volume. It follows the quality or action being adjusted, as in 小声一点. Use it for a limited degree or a gentler request.
这样
这样 means “in this way” or “so” in 这样大家可以学习. It connects speaking quietly with the result that everyone can study. Use it to introduce a result or explain how a certain way of acting helps.
大家
大家 means “everyone” in 这样大家可以学习. It refers to all the people in the library who need a quiet environment. Use it when referring inclusively to a group of people.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” in 大家可以学习 and 你可以坐在那里. It introduces an action that is possible or allowed, such as 学习 or 坐. Use it before an action when discussing permission or possibility.
学习
学习 means “study” in 大家可以学习. It is the action made possible by 可以 in this sentence. Use it for studying or learning, especially in a place such as a library.
我
我 means “I” or “me” and is used by the speaker in 我想借 and 我可以在服务台. It appears before the intention or ability being expressed. Use it when talking about yourself.
想
想 means “want to” in 我想借这本书, expressing the speaker’s intention to borrow the book. It comes before the action, as in 想借. Use it before an action to state what you want to do.
借
借 means “borrow” in 我想借这本书. The item being borrowed follows it, as in 借这本书. Use it when asking to take an item temporarily, such as a book from a library.
这
这 means “this” in 这本书 and identifies the particular book being discussed. It comes before the classifier 本, forming 这本书. Use it in the pattern “this + classifier + noun” when pointing out a specific item.
本
本 is the classifier used for the book in 这本书. It comes between 这 and 书, forming the complete noun phrase 这本书. Use it between a number or demonstrative and a book noun.
书
书 means “book” in 这本书. It follows the classifier 本 and names the item the visitor wants to borrow. Use it when talking about a book to read, borrow, or return.
在
在 means “at” or “in” in 在服务台, marking the location of the borrowing service. It comes before the place name 服务台. Use it in the pattern 在 + place when locating an action or person.
服务台
服务台 means “service desk” in 在服务台 and 带回服务台. It is the library desk where the book is borrowed and returned. Use it when referring to a service counter or desk.
帮
帮 means “help” or “do something for someone” in 帮你借这本书. It comes before the person receiving help and the action being done, as in 帮你借. Use it when offering assistance with an action.
你
你 means “you” in 帮你借这本书 and 你可以坐在那里. It refers to the visitor being addressed. Use it after a helping verb such as 帮 or before an action that the listener can do.
应该
应该 means “should” in 我应该在哪里还这本书, asking what the proper action or place is. It comes before the action or location being questioned. Use it when asking about an expected or appropriate action.
哪里
哪里 means “where” in 我应该在哪里还这本书. Together with 在, 在哪里 asks for a location. Use it when asking where an action should happen or where something is located.
还
还 means “return” or “give back” in 还这本书. The item being returned follows it, as in 还这本书. Use it when returning a borrowed book or another item.
看完
看完 means “finish reading” in 看完后, referring to finishing the book before returning it. 完 shows that the reading is completed within this form. Use it before 后 when describing what happens after finishing the reading.
后
后 means “after” in 看完后. It follows the completed action 看完 and sets the time for the next action, bringing the book back. Use it after an action or event to say what happens afterward.
把
把 marks the object being handled in 把它带回服务台. It places the object before the action that will affect it. Use the pattern 把 + object + action/result when focusing on what is done to an object.
它
它 means “it” and refers to the book in 把它带回服务台. It is the object placed after 把 and before the action. Use it when referring back to an already mentioned non-human item.
带回
带回 means “bring back” in 把它带回服务台. The object is 它 and the destination is 服务台 in the complete instruction. Use it when telling someone to bring an item back to a place.
窗边
窗边 means “by the window” in 窗边的座位. It describes the location of the seat and comes before 的. Use it before 的 when identifying something by its position near a window.
的
的 links the location modifier 窗边 to the noun 座位 in 窗边的座位. It comes after the modifier and before the noun. Use it to form a noun phrase in which one part describes or identifies the following noun.
座位
座位 means “seat” in 窗边的座位. It is the noun identified by the location phrase 窗边的. Use it when talking about a place where someone can sit, such as in a library.
看起来
看起来 means “looks” or “seems” in 看起来很舒服, describing an impression based on appearance. In this construction, 看 contributes looking and 起来 contributes the resulting impression; together they mean “looks” or “seems.” Use 看起来 before a description when judging how something appears.
舒服
舒服 means “comfortable” in 看起来很舒服, describing how the window seat appears. It follows 看起来 as the quality being judged. Use it when describing a seat or other place that feels comfortable.
坐
坐 means “sit” in 你可以坐在那里. It is the action made possible by 可以 and is followed by the location 那里. Use it when telling or saying where someone can sit.
那里
那里 means “there” in 坐在那里, referring to the window seat or its location. It follows 坐 to specify where the person can sit. Use it to point to a place already known from the context.
离开
离开 means “leave” in 离开前. It names the departure that the reading happens before. Use it when talking about leaving a place or situation.
前
前 means “before” in 离开前. It follows 离开 to express that reading happens before leaving. Use it after an action or event to set an earlier time for another action.
读书
读书 means “read” or “read a book” in 在离开前读书. It describes the activity the visitor can do while sitting in the library. Use it for reading as an activity, especially in a study setting.
Grammar Points
看完后 + 动作
看完后带回服务台。
Kàn wán hòu dài huí fúwùtái.After finishing reading, bring it back to the service desk.
“看完后”表示完成某个动作之后再进行下一步，常用于说明先后顺序。
看起来 + 形容词
窗边座位看起来舒服。
Chuāngbiān zuòwèi kàn qǐlái shūfu.The window-side seat looks comfortable.
“看起来”表示根据外观看来或给人的感觉，后面接形容词，而不是直接表示实际状态。
Chinese Vocabulary
安静
adj
ānjìng
quiet
帮
verb
bāng
to help
大家
pron
dàjiā
everyone
服务台
noun
fúwùtái
service desk; help desk
还
verb
huán
to return
借
verb
jiè
to borrow
哪里
pron
nǎlǐ
where
说话
verb
shuōhuà
to speak; to talk
图书馆
noun
túshūguǎn
library
小声一点
phrase
xiǎoshēng yìdiǎn
a little more quietly
学习
verb
xuéxí
to study; to learn
这样
adv
zhèyàng
so; in this way
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
a little more quietly
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小声一点so; in this way
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这样everyone
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大家to study; to learn