Borrowing a Hammer and Nails | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a Hammer and Nails to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

你有我可以用的锤子吗？

nǐ yǒu wǒ kěyǐ yòng de chuízi ma? Do you have a hammer I can use?

用这个，但要握紧把手。

yòng zhège, dàn yào wò jǐn bǎshou. Use this one, but grip the handle firmly.

我需要它来修理这个架子。

wǒ xūyào tā lái xiūlǐ zhège jiàzi. I need it to fix this shelf.

你还需要钉子吗？

nǐ hái xūyào dīngzi ma? Do you also need any nails?

一根钉子会有帮助。

yì gēn dīngzi huì yǒu bāngzhù. One nail would help.

它们在你旁边的箱子里。

tāmen zài nǐ pángbiān de xiāngzi lǐ. They are in the box beside you.

我做完后会把锤子还回来。

wǒ zuò wán hòu huì bǎ chuízi huán huílái. I will return the hammer when I finish.

你用完后，把它和其他工具一起放在这里。

nǐ yòng wán hòu, bǎ tā hé qítā gōngjù yìqǐ fàng zài zhèlǐ. Leave it here with the other tools when you are done.

Word by Word

你 “你” refers to the person being spoken to: “你有我可以用的锤子吗？”. It is used before the verb in a simple question, as in “你需要钉子吗？”. Use it when asking or telling one person something directly.

有 “有” means to have or possess in “你有我可以用的锤子吗？”. With a noun after it, “你有……” asks whether someone has something available. Use the pattern “你有 + noun + 吗？” when asking if someone has an item.

我 “我” refers to the speaker in “我可以用的锤子” and “我需要它”. It can refer to the person who is speaking, whether that person is the subject or part of a description. Use it before a verb in patterns such as “我需要……”.

可以 “可以” says that the speaker is able or allowed to use the hammer in “我可以用的锤子”. Here it comes before “用” to describe what the speaker can do. A reusable pattern is “可以 + verb”, for example “可以用” in this dialogue.

用 “用” means use in “我可以用的锤子” and “用完”. In “用完”, it contributes the action of using something that is then finished. Use it before an object, as in the new example “用这个工具” (“use this tool”).

的 “的” links the description “我可以用” to the noun “锤子” in “我可以用的锤子”. The whole phrase means “the hammer that I can use”; “的” shows that the words before it describe the noun after it. This pattern is useful for identifying an object by an action or description.

锤子 “锤子” means hammer in “我可以用的锤子” and “把锤子还回来”. It is the tool being borrowed and later returned in this conversation. Use it as the noun after a quantity or in an object phrase, such as the new example “一个锤子”.

吗 “吗” marks the sentence as a yes-or-no question in “你有我可以用的锤子吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when asking whether that statement is true, as in the new example “你需要吗？”.

这个 “这个” means this one in “用这个”. It identifies the particular item that B is offering, with the object understood from the context. Use “这个” when pointing out or choosing a nearby item.

但 “但” introduces a contrast in “用这个，但要握紧把手”. B gives permission to use the hammer but adds an important instruction. Use it to connect an instruction or statement with a contrasting point.

要 “要” expresses what the listener should do in “但要握紧把手”. Here it introduces the required action rather than naming an object that someone wants. Use the pattern “要 + verb” when giving a practical instruction.

握紧 “握紧” means grip tightly in “要握紧把手”. It describes holding the handle firmly so the hammer can be used safely. Use it before the object being gripped, as in “握紧把手”.

把手 “把手” means handle in “握紧把手”. It is the part of the hammer that B tells A to grip firmly. Use it after a verb such as “握紧” when naming the handle being held.

需要 “需要” means need in “我需要它来修理这个架子” and “你还需要钉子吗？”. It introduces something necessary for an activity or situation. Use the pattern “需要 + object”, such as “需要钉子”.

它 “它” refers to the hammer in “我需要它来修理这个架子” and “把它和其他工具一起放在这里”. It is used for a thing rather than a person, with the referenced object understood from the context. Use it after a verb when the object has already been mentioned.

来 “来” connects “需要它” with the purpose “修理这个架子” in “我需要它来修理这个架子”. The whole phrase says that the speaker needs the hammer in order to repair the shelf. Use “来 + verb” after an object when explaining its purpose.

修理 “修理” means repair or fix in “来修理这个架子”. It names the activity the hammer is needed for. Use it before the thing being repaired, as in “修理这个架子”.

架子 “架子” means shelf in “修理这个架子”. It is the object that A plans to fix with the hammer. Use it after a verb such as “修理” when referring to the shelf being repaired.

还 “还” means also in “你还需要钉子吗？”, adding nails to the hammer as another possible need. It appears before “需要” in this question. Use “还 + verb” when asking or stating that an additional action or need applies.

钉子 “钉子” means nail in “你还需要钉子吗？” and “一根钉子”. It is the small item needed together with the hammer for the shelf. Use it after a quantity phrase such as “一根钉子” or after “需要”.

一 “一” means one in “一根钉子”. It gives the quantity of the nail A says would help. Use it before a measure word and noun, as in “一根钉子”.

根 “根” is the measure word used for the nail in “一根钉子”. The whole phrase means one nail, with “根” connecting the number “一” to the noun “钉子”. Use the pattern “number + 根 + noun” for a narrow, stick-like item such as a nail.

会 “会” expresses the expected result in “一根钉子会有帮助”. The sentence says that one nail would be helpful for the repair. Use “会 + verb or phrase” when describing what is likely or expected to happen.

帮助 “帮助” means help in “会有帮助”. In the whole phrase, one nail is expected to be helpful; “帮助” names that benefit. Use it after “有” in the pattern “有帮助” when something is useful.

它们 “它们” refers to the nails in “它们在你旁边的箱子里”. It is used for multiple things that have already been mentioned or are understood from the context. Use it as the subject when locating or describing several objects.

在 “在” locates “它们” in “它们在你旁边的箱子里”. It connects the objects with their location, the box. Use the pattern “subject + 在 + place” to say where something is.

旁边 “旁边” means beside or next to in “你旁边的箱子”. It describes the box as being next to the person addressed. Use it before “的” when describing a nearby object, as in “我旁边的椅子” in a new example.

箱子 “箱子” means box in “你旁边的箱子里”. It is the container where the nails are located. Use it with a location word such as “里” to say that something is inside the box.

里 “里” means inside or in in “箱子里”. It completes the location phrase “你旁边的箱子里”, meaning inside the box beside you. Use it after a container noun when locating something inside it.

做完 “做完” means finish doing something in “我做完后”. It describes completing the task before returning the hammer. Use it before “后” in the pattern “做完后” when referring to the time after an activity is finished.

后 “后” means after in “我做完后”. It places the return of the hammer after the task has been completed. Use it after an action or time phrase, as in “用完后” in this dialogue.

把 “把” introduces the object that is directly handled in “把锤子还回来” and “把它和其他工具一起放在这里”. The full construction places the hammer or “它” before the action that changes its location. Use “把 + object + verb” when giving an instruction about handling a specific thing.

回来 “回来” contributes the meaning of coming back in “还回来”. Together, “还回来” means return the hammer to this place or person; “回来” adds the idea of back. Use it in a return-related expression when something comes back to the current place.

和 “和” means with or and in “和其他工具一起”. It connects the hammer with the other tools that should be placed together. Use the pattern “和 + noun + 一起” when saying that things are together.

其他 “其他” means other in “其他工具”. It refers to tools besides the hammer being returned. Use it before a noun when referring to additional items of the same general kind.

工具 “工具” means tool in “其他工具”. It names the group of equipment with which the hammer should be left. Use it after a word such as “其他” when referring to other tools.

一起 “一起” means together in “和其他工具一起”. It says that the hammer should be placed in the same place along with the other tools. Use it after the people or things being grouped and before the main action.

用完 “用完” means finish using something in “你用完后”. It refers to completing the use of the borrowed hammer before putting it back. Use the pattern “object + 用完后” when giving an instruction for what to do after using an item.

放 “放” means put or place in “把它和其他工具一起放在这里”. It describes moving the hammer to a specified location. Use it before a place phrase, as in “放在这里”.

这里 “这里” means here in “放在这里”. It identifies the place where the hammer should be left, namely the place being indicated by B. Use it after “在” or “放在” when referring to the current or indicated location.

Grammar Points

需要 + 动词

需要修理架子

xūyào xiūlǐ jiàzi

need to repair the shelf

Chinese places the action directly after 需要; English uses “to” before the verb.

还 + 动词

还需要修理架子

hái xūyào xiūlǐ jiàzi

also need to repair the shelf

还 comes before the verb phrase to add another action or state.

Chinese Vocabulary

把手 noun

bǎshou handle

用这个,但要握紧把手。

锤子 noun

chuízi hammer

你有我可以用的锤子吗?

但 conj

dàn but

用这个,但要握紧把手。

还 adv

hái also; additionally

你还需要钉子吗?

架子 noun

jiàzi shelf

我需要它来修理这个架子。

你 pron

nǐ you

你有我可以用的锤子吗?

握紧 verb

wòjǐn grip tightly

用这个,但要握紧把手。

修理 verb

xiūlǐ repair; fix

我需要它来修理这个架子。

需要 verb

xūyào need

我需要它来修理这个架子。

用 verb

yòng use

用这个,但要握紧把手。

有 verb

yǒu have

你有我可以用的锤子吗?

这个 det

zhège this one

用这个,但要握紧把手。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

handle

Show Answer

把手

grip tightly

Show Answer

握紧

hammer

Show Answer

锤子

this one

Show Answer

这个