Using a Computer and Printer in a Quiet Library | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 我可以用这台电脑吗？

   Can I use this computer?

   我可以

   I can / may

   用

   use

   这台

   this one

   电脑

   computer

   吗

   yes-or-no question marker

   More detail

   我可以 means “I can” or, in this request, “may I.” 我 is the first-person pronoun “I.” 可以 expresses that something is permitted or possible; here it asks for permission, rather than simply describing physical ability. Chinese verbs do not change form for person or tense, so 可以 stays the same with different subjects. Example: 你可以进去。 — “You may go in.” 用 means “use.” It is a verb and is followed here by the thing being used. Example: 我用手机。 — “I use a phone.” 这台 means “this [machine/device].” 这 means “this,” and 台 is a classifier commonly used with machines and equipment. Classifiers are used between a demonstrative or number and a noun: 那台电脑 means “that computer,” as in the supplied following sentence. 这台 itself does not identify the device by name until 电脑 follows it. 电脑 means “computer.” In 这台电脑, it is the noun specified by the demonstrative-classifier combination. Example: 那台电脑很旧。 — “That computer is very old.” 吗 is placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes-or-no question. It does not itself mean “can” or “may”; the permission meaning comes from 可以. Example: 你用电脑吗？ — “Do you use a computer?” Together, 我可以 + 用 + 这台电脑 + 吗 forms the question 我可以用这台电脑吗？ The speaker asks whether they are permitted to use this computer: “Can I use this computer?”

2. 那台电脑是空着的。

   That computer is free.

   那

   that

   台

   classifier for machines

   电脑

   computer

   是

   is

   空着的

   free; unoccupied

   More detail

   那 means “that” and points to a specific item understood from the situation. It contrasts with 这, “this”; both are demonstratives, and the choice depends on the speaker’s intended distance or contrast, not simply on the nearest noun. 台 is a measure word commonly used with machines and some electronic equipment. In 那台电脑, it links the demonstrative and the noun: 那 + 台 + 电脑 = “that computer.” A similar reusable pattern is 这台电脑 = “this computer.” 电脑 means “computer.” With this type of machine, a measure word such as 台 is normally used when counting or identifying it. For example, 一台电脑 means “one computer.” Here, however, 那台 identifies the computer as “that one”; it does not by itself assert a numerical count. 是 is the linking verb “be.” The pattern A 是 B links A with an identification or description. Here it connects 那台电脑 with the following description rather than expressing an action. 空着的 describes something as unoccupied or available. 空 means “empty” or “free” in this context, and 着 marks the continuing state. The 的 at the end makes the descriptive phrase function as the predicate complement after 是; it does not mean “of.” Thus 空着 focuses on the computer’s ongoing vacant state, while 空着的 presents that state in the pattern A 是 空着的. Here “free” means “not currently occupied,” not “free of charge.” Together, 那台电脑 means “that computer,” 是 links it to a description, and 空着的 says that it is currently unoccupied. The whole utterance therefore means “That computer is free.”

3. 屏幕很亮。

   The screen is very bright.

   屏幕

   screen

   很亮

   very bright

   More detail

   屏幕 means “screen” here. It is a noun and can be reused for different kinds of screens, such as a phone or computer screen. Example: 手机屏幕 means “phone screen.” 很亮 describes the screen as very bright. 亮 is the adjective “bright”; 很 commonly comes before an adjective in a simple descriptive statement. In this pattern, 很 can mark the adjective predicate naturally, while the translation here expresses the intended strong degree “very.” The opposite adjective is 暗, “dim” or “dark.” Example: 灯很亮。 — “The light is very bright.” Together, 屏幕 + 很亮 form a simple description: “The screen is very bright.” Chinese does not need a separate word equivalent to English “is” in this adjective-predicate pattern.

4. 你可以在这里调低亮度。

   You can lower the brightness here.

   你可以

   you can

   在这里

   here

   调低

   lower

   亮度

   brightness

   More detail

   你可以 combines 你 (“you”) with the modal 可以, giving “you can” here. 可以 commonly expresses that someone is able or allowed to do something; the fixed translation supports the general “can” meaning without requiring a more specific reading. In Chinese, this form does not change for person or number. Example: 你可以坐这里。 — “You can sit here.” 在这里 means “here.” 在 marks the location, and 这里 is the place expression “here.” This pattern can be reused with another location: 我在这里工作。 — “I work here.” 调低 is the verb “to lower” or “to adjust downward.” It describes changing a controllable level so that it becomes lower. A useful contrast is 调高, “to raise” or “to adjust upward.” Example: 请调低音量。 — “Please lower the volume.” These verb forms do not change for person or number. 亮度 is the noun “brightness” or “brightness level.” It names how bright something is; it is different from 亮, “bright,” which describes something rather than naming the level itself. Example: 亮度太高。 — “The brightness is too high.” Together, 你可以 + 在这里 + 调低 + 亮度 gives “You can lower the brightness here.” The modal identifies an available or permitted action, 在这里 specifies the location, and 调低亮度 specifies lowering the brightness level.

5. 我也可以用打印机吗？

   Can I use the printer too?

   我也

   I also; me too

   可以

   can; be allowed to

   用

   use

   打印机

   printer

   吗

   yes-no question marker

   More detail

   我也 means “I too” here: 我 is the first-person singular pronoun “I,” and 也 means “also/too.” In Chinese, 也 commonly comes after the subject: 我也可以。 — “I can too.” The phrase identifies the speaker as joining an already relevant possibility; it does not itself say what the speaker is also doing until the rest of the sentence supplies that action. 可以 is the modal verb “can” or “be allowed to.” Here it asks whether using the printer is permitted. A useful pattern is subject + 可以 + verb: 你可以用打印机。 — “You can use the printer.” 可以 can also express practical possibility, but the fixed translation supports the permission/ability reading here. 用 is the verb “use.” It comes after the modal and before the object: 可以用 + object. Example: 我可以用电脑吗？ — “May I use the computer?” The form 用 does not change for person or number. 打印机 means “printer.” It is the object of 用, the thing being used. The word is a common compound whose meaning is associated with printing and a machine, but it functions as one noun in this sentence. Example: 这台打印机很好用。 — “This printer is easy to use.” 吗 is placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a neutral yes-no question. Compare 你可以用打印机。 — “You can use the printer.” with 你可以用打印机吗？ — “Can you use the printer?” It does not add a separate object or action; it marks the sentence as a question. As a whole, 我也 + 可以 + 用 + 打印机 + 吗 asks, “Can I use the printer too?” The speaker is asking whether they are also permitted or able to use the printer. The structure is reusable as 我也可以 + verb + object + 吗？, for example, 我也可以坐这里吗？ — “Can I sit here too?”

6. 你可以用服务台旁边的打印机。

   You can use the printer near the desk.

   你可以

   you can

   用

   use

   服务台

   service desk

   旁边

   beside; nearby

   打印机

   printer

   More detail

   你可以 combines 你, “you,” with 可以, “can; be allowed to.” Here it says that the addressee is able or permitted to do the following action; the fixed translation supports “you can.” 可以 does not change for person or number. A reusable pattern is 我可以 + verb = “I can / may + verb.” Example: 我可以进去吗？ — “May I go in?” 用 is the verb “to use.” It comes before the thing being used: 用电脑 means “use a computer.” Example: 她用手机付款。 — “She uses a phone to pay.” 服务台 means “service desk” or “help desk.” Here, 服务 means “service,” while 台 is a noun meaning a desk, counter, stand, or similar structure in this compound; it is not functioning here as a numeric classifier. In this utterance, the compound identifies the desk used as the location reference. 旁边 means “beside” or “nearby.” With 的, the pattern A旁边的B means “B that is beside A” or “the B near A.” The location phrase modifies the following noun; it does not itself mean “printer.” Example: 门旁边的椅子 — “the chair beside the door.” 打印机 means “printer.” It is a compound noun: 打印 means “to print,” and 机 means a machine or device. The complete word refers to the device, rather than to the act of printing. Example: 这台打印机不能用。 — “This printer cannot be used.” Together, 服务台旁边的打印机 is “the printer near the service desk”: 服务台 is the location reference, 旁边的 links that location to the noun, and 打印机 is the thing being identified. The pattern 你可以用 + object means “You can use + object,” so the whole utterance means: “You can use the printer near the desk.”

7. 如果我播放声音，我会戴耳机。

   I'll use headphones if I play any audio.

   如果

   if

   播放

   play

   声音

   sound; audio

   我会

   I will

   戴

   wear

   耳机

   headphones

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition: 如果 A，B means “if A, B.” It is reusable for possible conditions, and the comma commonly separates the condition from the result. Example: 如果下雨，我会带伞。 — “If it rains, I’ll bring an umbrella.” 播放 means “to play” recorded or digital media, such as audio or video. It is a verb; its base form is already 播放, so it does not change for the speaker or for time. Example: 请播放这首歌。 — “Please play this song.” 声音 is a noun meaning “sound” or “audio.” In this sentence, it refers to audio being played, as confirmed by the translation. 声音 can also refer to a person’s or animal’s voice when the context specifies that meaning, but that is not the intended meaning here. Example: 我听到了声音。 — “I heard a sound.” 我会 combines 我 (“I”) with 会, which here expresses a future or expected action: “I will.” 会 is a modal verb, so it comes before the main verb: 我会播放 means “I will play.” The subject 我 is the person who will perform the action. Example: 我会早点来。 — “I’ll come early.” 戴 means “to wear” or “to put on” items worn on the body, including headphones. In 戴耳机, it is the verb and 耳机 is its object. This differs from 穿, which is used for clothing such as shirts or shoes. Example: 她戴眼镜。 — “She wears glasses.” 耳机 is the noun “headphones” or “earphones.” The form itself does not mark singular versus plural; the context determines whether it means one listening device or a pair/set. Example: 我的耳机在桌上。 — “My headphones are on the table.” Together, 如果我播放声音 is “if I play audio,” and 我会戴耳机 is “I will wear headphones.” The conditional pattern 如果 A，我会 B therefore gives: “If I play any audio, I’ll use headphones.”

8. 这样能让房间保持安静。

   That will keep the room quiet.

   这样

   this way; like this

   能让

   can make; can let

   房间

   room

   保持

   keep; maintain

   安静

   quiet

   More detail

   这样 means “this way” or “like this.” Here it points to the method under discussion; with the preceding context, that method is using headphones when playing audio. It functions as the subject of the sentence. 能让 combines 能 “can” with 让 “make/let.” The pattern A 能让 B + verb phrase means “A can cause B to do/be something.” In this sentence, 能 expresses a possible effect, not a command. Example: 这样能让大家听清楚。 — “This way can help everyone hear clearly.” 房间 means “room.” It is the object of 让, the thing whose state is affected. Example: 我打扫房间。 — “I clean the room.” 保持 means “keep” or “maintain,” especially keeping something in a continuing state. Its base form is also 保持; it does not show a tense change here. In 让 + object + 保持..., it describes the state the object is kept in. 安静 means “quiet.” Here it describes the state of 房间 and follows 保持 in the reusable pattern 保持 + adjective: “keep [something] + adjective.” Example: 请保持安静。 — “Please keep quiet.” Together, 这样能让房间保持安静 follows A 能让 B 保持 C: “A can keep B C.” The complete meaning is “That will keep the room quiet.”