Borrowing Small Tools | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing Small Tools to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我可以用剪刀吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ yòng jiǎndāo ma? Can I use the scissors?

拿这些，刀刃朝下。

Ná zhèxiē, dāorèn cháo xià. Take these and keep the blades pointed down.

我还需要一些胶带。

Wǒ hái xūyào yìxiē jiāodài. I also need some tape.

胶带在抽屉里。

Jiāodài zài chōuti lǐ. The tape is in the drawer.

你也有尺子吗？

Nǐ yě yǒu chǐzi ma? Do you have a ruler too?

有，在我的桌子上。

Yǒu, zài wǒ de zhuōzi shàng. Yes, it is on my desk.

你可以从那里拿走它。

Nǐ kěyǐ cóng nàlǐ ná zǒu tā. You can take it from there.

我用完后会把所有东西还回来。

Wǒ yòng wán hòu huì bǎ suǒyǒu dōngxi huán huílái. I will return everything when I finish.

把尺子放在最上面，这样我之后就能找到它。

Bǎ chǐzi fàng zài zuì shàngmiàn, zhèyàng wǒ zhīhòu jiù néng zhǎodào tā. Leave the ruler on top so I can find it later.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me” here: the speaker is referring to themself. It is used before the verb in “我可以用剪刀吗？” and “我还需要一些胶带。” Use it when speaking about yourself to another person.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” here, giving permission to use the scissors. In “我可以用剪刀吗？”, it comes before the verb “用” to ask whether the action is allowed. Use it when asking for or giving permission.

用 “用” means “use” in “我可以用剪刀吗？”, referring to using the scissors for a purpose. It appears after the person and permission word, before the object. Use it before a tool or other object when describing using it.

剪刀 “剪刀” means “scissors” here, the tool the speaker wants to use. It is the object after “用” in “我可以用剪刀吗？”. Use it when identifying or asking to use this cutting tool.

吗 “吗” turns “我可以用剪刀” into the yes-or-no question “我可以用剪刀吗？”. It appears at the end of the question. Use it at the end of a statement when asking whether it is true or allowed.

拿 “拿” means “take” in the instruction “拿这些”, telling the listener to take the items. It is used at the beginning of the instruction before the object “这些”. Use it when telling someone to take or pick up something.

这些 “这些” means “these” and points to the items nearby in “拿这些”. It functions as the object of “拿”. Use it to refer to several specific things that are being indicated or are understood from the situation.

刀刃 “刀刃” means “the blade” here, referring to the sharp cutting edges of the scissors. In “刀刃朝下”, it is the thing whose direction is being described. Use it when talking about the sharp edge of a cutting tool.

朝下 “朝下” means “pointing downward” in “刀刃朝下”. “朝” indicates the direction something faces, and “下” contributes the downward direction, so together they describe the blades facing down. Use this pattern to describe the direction an object is facing or pointing.

还 “还” means “also” here in “我还需要一些胶带”, adding another thing the speaker needs. It appears before “需要” and introduces an additional request. Use it when adding information to something already mentioned.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我还需要一些胶带”, expressing that the speaker requires tape. It comes before the needed item. Use it before a person, object, or activity that is necessary.

一些 “一些” means “some” in “一些胶带”, referring to an unspecified amount of tape. It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a plural or uncounted item when the amount is not specified.

胶带 “胶带” means “tape” here, the additional item the speaker needs. It follows “一些” in “我还需要一些胶带”. Use it when referring to adhesive tape as a tool or material.

在 “在” shows the location of something in “胶带在抽屉里” and “在我的桌子上”. It links the item with the place where it is located. Use it before a location when saying where a person or thing is.

抽屉 “抽屉” means “drawer” in “胶带在抽屉里”, identifying where the tape is stored. It is followed by “里” to show that the tape is inside it. Use it when referring to a drawer that holds or contains something.

里 “里” means “inside” or “in” in “抽屉里”, showing that the tape is inside the drawer. It follows the location noun “抽屉”. Use it after a container or enclosed place to indicate its interior.

你 “你” means “you” in “你也有尺子吗？”, referring to the person being asked. It appears before “有” as the subject of the question. Use it when addressing one person directly.

也 “也” means “also” or “too” in “你也有尺子吗？”, asking whether the other person has a ruler as well. It appears before “有”. Use it before the verb when adding a person or thing to an earlier situation.

有 “有” means “have” here in “你也有尺子吗？”, asking whether the person possesses or has access to a ruler. In the reply “有”, it confirms that the ruler is available. Use it when talking about possession or availability.

尺子 “尺子” means “ruler” here, the tool the speaker asks about and later refers to again. It follows “有” in “你也有尺子吗？”. Use it when identifying a ruler used for measuring or drawing straight lines.

我的 “我的” means “my” in “我的桌子”, identifying the desk as belonging to or associated with the speaker. It combines “我”, meaning “I/me”, with “的”, which marks the relationship before the noun “桌子”. Use it before a noun when referring to something connected with yourself.

桌子 “桌子” means “desk” or “table” in “我的桌子上”, the surface where the ruler is located. It is followed by “上” to express that something is on it. Use it when referring to a desk or table as a place or piece of furniture.

上 “上” means “on” or “above” in “我的桌子上”, showing that the ruler is on the desk’s surface. It follows the location noun and works with “在” to describe position. Use it after a surface or elevated place when locating something on it.

从 “从” means “from” in “从那里拿走它”, marking the place where the item is taken. It appears before “那里”, the source location. Use it before a place when describing where someone or something comes or is taken from.

那里 “那里” means “there” in “从那里拿走它”, referring to the place that was just identified, the desk. It follows “从” to form the source location. Use it to point to a place away from the speaker or already understood in the conversation.

拿走 “拿走” means “take away” in “从那里拿走它”, describing taking the ruler away from that place. “拿” contributes the action of taking, and “走” shows movement away with the item. Use it when an object is taken from its current location.

它 “它” means “it” in “拿走它”, referring to the ruler without repeating the noun. It follows the verb phrase as the object being taken. Use it to refer to a non-human thing that is already clear from the context.

完 “完” means “finished” in “我用完后”, showing that the use of the tools has been completed. It follows “用” to express finishing the use of something, and “后” then marks what happens afterward. Use it after an action when referring to completing that action.

后 “后” means “after” in “我用完后”, placing the return of the items after the speaker has finished using them. It follows the completed action “用完”. Use it after an action or time point to introduce what happens afterward.

会 “会” means “will” here in “会把所有东西还回来”, indicating the speaker’s planned future action. It appears before the action marked by “把”. Use it before a verb phrase when stating what someone will do.

把 “把” introduces “所有东西” as the object that will be dealt with in “把所有东西还回来”. It places the affected object before the action “还回来”. Use it in a sentence when focusing on what will be done to a specific object.

所有 “所有” means “all” in “所有东西”, referring to the complete set of borrowed items. It comes before the noun “东西”. Use it before a noun when referring to every item in a relevant group.

东西 “东西” means “things” or “objects” in “所有东西”, referring collectively to the scissors, tape, and ruler. It follows “所有” to express all the items. Use it when referring generally to physical objects without naming each one.

回来 “回来” means “back” or “return” in “还回来”, describing bringing the borrowed items back. “还” contributes returning something, and “回来” indicates movement back to the shared space. Use it when an item or person returns to the relevant place.

放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “把尺子放在最上面”, telling someone where to leave the ruler. It appears after the object introduced by “把”. Use it when placing an object in a particular location.

最 “最” contributes the meaning “most” or “very” in “最上面”, specifying the highest or topmost position. It comes before “上面” to make the location more precise. Use it before a position word when identifying the extreme or highest place.

上面 “上面” means “the top” or “upper surface” in “放在最上面”, identifying where the ruler should be placed. Together with “最”, it means the very top. Use it after a placement verb when specifying an upper surface or position.

这样 “这样” means “this way” or “so” in “这样我之后就能找到它”, referring to the placement just described. It introduces the result that follows from leaving the ruler on top. Use it to connect an action or arrangement with its practical result.

之后 “之后” means “afterward” or “later” in “我之后就能找到它”, referring to a later time when the speaker needs to find the ruler. It appears before the action “找到”. Use it to indicate that something happens after the current point or event.

就 “就” means “then” or “thereby” in “这样我之后就能找到它”, linking the suggested placement with the resulting ability to find the ruler. It appears before “能”. Use it when one situation leads directly to a result.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to” in “能找到它”, expressing that the speaker will be able to find the ruler. It comes before the action “找到”. Use it before a verb when describing ability or whether an action can be accomplished.

找到 “找到” means “find” in “找到它”, emphasizing successfully locating the ruler. It follows “能” and takes “它” as its object. Use it when describing locating something that was being looked for.

的 “的” marks the possessive relationship in “我的”, linking “我” with the noun “桌子” to mean “my desk”. It follows the person or possessor and comes before the noun. Use it to show who something belongs to or is associated with.

Grammar Points

从 + 那里 + 拿走

从那里拿走所有东西。

Cóng nàlǐ ná zǒu suǒyǒu dōngxi.

Take everything away from there.

从放在动作前面，表示动作的起点；英语通常把 from 放在动词后面或句末。

也 + 需要

也需要一些胶带。

Yě xūyào yìxiē jiāodài.

Also needs some tape.

也通常放在动词前面，表示“也、同样”；英语的 also 位置更灵活。

Chinese Vocabulary

朝下 phrase

cháo xià pointing downward

抽屉 noun

chōuti drawer

刀刃 noun

dāorèn blade

还 adv

hái also; still

剪刀 noun

jiǎndāo scissors

胶带 noun

jiāodài tape

拿 verb

ná to take

需要 verb

xūyào to need

也 adv

yě also; too

一些 det

yìxiē some

用 verb

yòng to use

这些 det

zhèxiē these

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

pointing downward

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朝下

blade

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刀刃

scissors

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剪刀

some

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一些