About This Lesson
Use Using a Computer and Printer in a Quiet Library to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我可以用这台电脑吗？
wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhè tái diànnǎo ma? Can I use this computer?
B
那台电脑是空着的。
nà tái diànnǎo shì kōngzhe de. That computer is free.
A
屏幕很亮。
píngmù hěn liàng. The screen is very bright.
B
你可以在这里调低亮度。
nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ tiáo dī liàngdù. You can lower the brightness here.
A
我也可以用打印机吗？
wǒ yě kěyǐ yòng dǎyìnjī ma? Can I use the printer too?
B
你可以用服务台旁边的打印机。
nǐ kěyǐ yòng fúwùtái pángbiān de dǎyìnjī. You can use the printer near the desk.
A
如果我播放声音，我会戴耳机。
rúguǒ wǒ bōfàng shēngyīn, wǒ huì dài ěrjī. I'll use headphones if I play any audio.
B
这样能让房间保持安静。
zhèyàng néng ràng fángjiān bǎochí ānjìng. That will keep the room quiet.Word by Word
我
“我” means “I” or “me” and is the person asking to use the computer in “我可以用这台电脑吗？”. It commonly appears before the action, as in 我用电脑. Use it when referring to yourself in a conversation.
可以
“可以” means “can” or “be allowed to” in “我可以用这台电脑吗？”, asking for permission. It comes before the action, as in 可以用打印机. Use it when politely asking whether an action is permitted or possible.
用
“用” means “use” in “我可以用这台电脑吗？”. It is followed by the thing being used, such as 用电脑 or 用打印机. Use it when asking to operate or make use of an object.
这
“这” means “this” and points to the computer being referred to in “这台电脑”. It comes before the measure word and noun. Use it in the pattern 这 + measure word + noun when identifying something nearby.
台
“台” is the measure word used in “这台电脑” for a machine such as a computer. It appears between 这 and 电脑 here. Use the pattern 一台电脑 when counting computers.
电脑
“电脑” means “computer” in “这台电脑”. It follows the measure word 台 when the computer is counted or identified. Use it as the object after 用, as in 用电脑.
吗
“吗” turns “我可以用这台电脑” into the yes-or-no question “我可以用这台电脑吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when asking for a simple confirmation.
那
“那” means “that” and points to the computer already referred to in “那台电脑”. It comes before 台 and 电脑. Use the pattern 那 + measure word + noun when identifying something farther away or previously mentioned.
是
“是” links “那台电脑” with the description “空着的” in “那台电脑是空着的”. Here it presents the computer as being in an available state. Use it to connect a subject with an identifying description.
空着
“空着” describes the computer in “那台电脑是空着的” as unoccupied and available. The form presents the computer as remaining free for someone to use. A new example is 门开着, meaning that the door is left open.
的
In “那台电脑是空着的”, “的” follows “空着” and helps package that description as the state of the computer after 是. It is part of the complete expression 是空着的 here. Use the same kind of ending when identifying something by a descriptive state.
屏幕
“屏幕” means “screen” in “屏幕很亮”. It is the subject whose brightness is being described. Use it with words for visual qualities, such as 屏幕很亮.
很
“很” gives the description in “屏幕很亮” the degree “very” or “quite”. It comes before the describing word 亮. Use the pattern 很 + description, such as 很安静.
亮
“亮” means “bright” in “屏幕很亮”, describing the screen’s strong brightness. It follows 很 in this sentence. Use it to describe a light or screen when it gives off a lot of light.
你
“你” means “you” and refers to the person who can adjust the brightness in “你可以在这里调低亮度”. It comes before the ability or action being described. Use it when speaking directly to one person.
在
“在” marks the place where the adjustment can be made in “在这里”. It comes before the place expression 这里. Use it in the pattern 在 + place + action, such as 在图书馆用电脑.
这里
“这里” means “here” in “你可以在这里调低亮度”. It identifies the location where the person can lower the brightness. Use it after 在 when pointing to the current place.
调低
“调低” means “lower” or “turn down” in “调低亮度”. It describes changing a setting to a lower level. It is followed by the setting being changed, such as 调低音量 in a new example.
亮度
“亮度” means “brightness” in “调低亮度”. It is the setting that can be changed with 调低. Use it as the object in the pattern 调低 + 亮度 when asking someone to reduce screen brightness.
也
“也” means “also” or “too” in “我也可以用打印机吗？”. It adds the printer to the earlier request about using the computer. It usually comes before 可以 or another action, as in 我也用电脑.
打印机
“打印机” means “printer” in “我也可以用打印机吗？”. It is the object of 用 and the item the speaker is asking permission to use. Use it after 用 when talking about printing equipment.
服务台
“服务台” means “service desk” in “服务台旁边的打印机”. It identifies the desk used as the reference point for locating the printer. Use it with a location expression when directing someone to a place in a library or other public building.
旁边
“旁边” means “beside” or “next to” in “服务台旁边的打印机”. It places the printer next to the service desk and comes after the reference place. Use the pattern 地点 + 旁边的 + object, such as 门旁边的椅子 in a new example.
如果
“如果” means “if” and introduces the condition in “如果我播放声音”. It comes before the condition, which is followed by the result “我会戴耳机”. Use it to connect a possible situation with what will happen in that situation.
播放
“播放” means “play” or “play back” in “播放声音”. It describes starting audio so that it can be heard. It is followed by the content being played, as in 播放声音.
声音
“声音” means “sound” or “audio” in “如果我播放声音”. It is the thing being played and is the object after 播放. Use it when referring generally to audible output rather than a specific song or recording.
会
“会” means “will” in “我会戴耳机”, describing the speaker’s planned response if audio is played. It comes after the subject and before the action. Use it in the pattern subject + 会 + action to state what is expected to happen.
戴
“戴” means “wear” or “put on” in “戴耳机”. It is used for putting a wearable item on the body, and here the item is 耳机. A new example is 戴眼镜, meaning “wear glasses”.
耳机
“耳机” means “headphones” in “我会戴耳机”. It is the item worn so that the audio does not disturb the quiet room. Use it after 戴 when talking about wearing headphones.
这样
“这样” means “this way” or “in this manner” in “这样能让房间保持安静”. It refers to the action just described, using headphones while playing audio. Use it to point back to a method or arrangement and describe its result.
能
“能” means “can” in “这样能让房间保持安静”, expressing that this method can produce the stated result. It comes before 让 and the result structure. Use the pattern 能让 + person or thing + result when describing what an action can cause.
让
“让” means “let” or “make” in “能让房间保持安静”. It introduces 房间 as the thing that is caused to remain quiet. Use the pattern 让 + object + action or description to express causing a result.
房间
“房间” means “room” in “让房间保持安静”. It is the place whose condition is being maintained. Use it as the object after 让 when describing what happens to a room.
保持
“保持” means “keep” or “maintain” in “保持安静”. It describes continuing in the same condition rather than changing it. Use it before a condition, as in 保持安静, when asking for or describing continued quiet.
安静
“安静” means “quiet” in “让房间保持安静”. It describes the condition that the room should continue to have. Use it after 保持 to talk about keeping a place quiet.
Grammar Points
让 + 名词 + 动词短语
让房间保持安静。
ràng fángjiān bǎochí ānjìng.Let the room stay quiet.
让 introduces the person or thing affected by an action or state. Here, 房间 is kept quiet.
如果……，……
如果播放声音，戴耳机。
rúguǒ bōfàng shēngyīn, dài ěrjī.If you play sound, wear headphones.
如果 introduces a condition. The following clause states what to do in that situation.
Chinese Vocabulary
调低亮度
phrase
tiáo dī liàngdù
lower the brightness
很
adv
hěn
very
空着
adj
kōngzhe
unoccupied; available
亮
adj
liàng
bright
那台电脑
phrase
nà tái diànnǎo
that computer
你
pron
nǐ
you
屏幕
noun
píngmù
screen
我
pron
wǒ
I; me
也
adv
yě
also; too
用
verb
yòng
to use
这里
adv
zhèlǐ
here
这台电脑
phrase
zhè tái diànnǎo
this computer
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
this computer
Show Answer
这台电脑that computer
Show Answer
那台电脑lower the brightness
Show Answer
调低亮度here