About This Lesson
Use Borrowing cleaning supplies to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
你有我可以用的清洁布吗？
Nǐ yǒu wǒ kěyǐ yòng de qīngjié bù ma? Do you have a cleaning cloth I can use?
B
盒子里有一块。
Hézi lǐ yǒu yí kuài. There is one in the box.
A
你也有清洁喷雾吗？
Nǐ yě yǒu qīngjié pēnwù ma? Do you have cleaning spray too?
B
清洁喷雾就在清洁布旁边。
Qīngjié pēnwù jiù zài qīngjié bù pángbiān. The spray is beside it.
A
我需要擦这张桌子。
Wǒ xūyào cā zhè zhāng zhuōzi. I need to clean this desk.
B
只用一点点。
Zhǐ yòng yì diǎn diǎn. Use only a small amount.
A
我会擦桌子，再把这两样都放回去。
Wǒ huì cā zhuōzi, zài bǎ zhè liǎng yàng dōu fàng huíqù. I will wipe the desk and put both back.
B
把它们一起放在盒子里。
Bǎ tāmen yìqǐ fàng zài hézi lǐ. Keep them together in the box.Word by Word
你
你 means “you” here, referring to the person being asked about available supplies. In “你有我可以用的清洁布吗？”, it is the subject of the question. Use 你 when speaking directly to one person in an ordinary conversation.
有
有 means “have” in “你有我可以用的清洁布吗？”, asking whether the other person has a usable cleaning cloth. In “盒子里有一块。”, it means that one exists in the box. Use 有 after a person to ask about possession, or after a place to say that something is there.
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker. In “我可以用的清洁布”, it is the person who can use the cloth. Use 我 when describing your own action, need, or ability.
可以
可以 means “can” in “我可以用的清洁布”, identifying a cloth that the speaker can use. Together with 用, it expresses that using the cloth is possible or allowed in this situation. A reusable pattern is “可以” followed by an action, as in “可以用”.
用
用 means “use” in “我可以用的清洁布”, referring to using the cloth. It appears after 可以 to form “可以用”, meaning “can use”. Use 用 before the thing being used when describing an action.
的
的 links “我可以用” to “清洁布” in “我可以用的清洁布”, meaning “the cleaning cloth that I can use”. It turns the description before it into information about the noun that follows. This pattern can be reused when a longer description comes before a noun.
清洁布
清洁布 means “cleaning cloth” here, the cloth the speaker wants to use. It is the noun described by “我可以用的” in “我可以用的清洁布”. Use 清洁布 when referring to a cloth intended for cleaning.
吗
吗 is the question particle at the end of “你有我可以用的清洁布吗？”. It changes the statement into a yes-or-no question. Place 吗 at the end when asking whether something is true or available.
盒子
盒子 means “box” in “盒子里有一块。”, the container where the cloth is located. With 里, it forms “盒子里”, meaning “inside the box”. Use 盒子 for a box that contains or stores something.
里
里 means “inside” in “盒子里有一块。”. It follows the place noun 盒子 to show that the cloth is within the box. A reusable location pattern is “place + 里”, as in “盒子里”.
块
块 is the classifier in “一块”, referring here to one cleaning cloth. It counts the cloth as one piece or item in “盒子里有一块。”. Use 一块 when counting this kind of cloth in this context.
也
也 means “also” or “too” in “你也有清洁喷雾吗？”. It shows that the speaker is asking about another supply in addition to the cleaning cloth. Place 也 before the verb or phrase that shares the same situation.
清洁喷雾
清洁喷雾 means “cleaning spray” here, the second cleaning supply. In “清洁喷雾就在清洁布旁边。”, it is the item located beside the cloth. Use 清洁喷雾 when referring to spray used for cleaning.
就
就 adds the sense of “right” or “just” in “清洁喷雾就在清洁布旁边。”. It emphasizes that the spray is located exactly beside the cleaning cloth. In a location statement, 就 can appear before 在 to make the location more definite.
在
在 marks the location in “在清洁布旁边”, meaning that something is beside the cleaning cloth. In “清洁喷雾就在清洁布旁边。”, it connects the spray with its place. Use 在 before a location when saying where something is.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “next to” in “清洁布旁边”. It identifies the place immediately next to the cleaning cloth. A reusable pattern is “A 旁边”, meaning “beside A”.
需要
需要 means “need” in “我需要擦这张桌子。”, expressing that the speaker needs to wipe the desk. It is followed here by the action 擦, so the need concerns an action. Use 需要 before a thing or action that is necessary.
擦
擦 means “wipe” or “clean by wiping” in “擦这张桌子。”. It describes the action the speaker needs to perform on the desk. Use 擦 before the surface or object being wiped, as in “擦这张桌子”.
这
这 means “this” in “这张桌子。”, pointing to the desk near the speakers or currently being discussed. It comes before the classifier 张 and the noun 桌子. Use 这 to identify one nearby or currently relevant thing.
张
张 is the classifier in “这张桌子”, used here for the desk. It appears between 这 and 桌子 to form the noun phrase “this desk”. Use the complete pattern “这张桌子” when referring to this desk.
桌子
桌子 means “desk” or “table” here, the surface the speaker plans to wipe. It appears in “擦这张桌子” and “擦桌子”. Use 桌子 when referring to the piece of furniture being cleaned.
只
只 means “only” in “只用一点点。”. It limits the amount of cleaning spray to a very small quantity. Place 只 before the action or amount being restricted, as in “只用一点点”.
一点点
一点点 means “a very small amount” in “只用一点点。”. The 一 introduces one small portion, and the repeated 点 expresses that the amount is tiny. Together, 一点点 is useful when telling someone to use only a little of a substance.
会
会 means “will” in “我会擦桌子，再把这两样都放回去。”. It introduces the speaker’s planned actions. A reusable pattern is “我会” followed by an action, as in “我会擦桌子”.
再
再 means “then” or “afterward” in “擦桌子，再把这两样都放回去。”. It shows that returning the supplies happens after wiping the desk. Use 再 before a later action when describing an action sequence.
把
把 marks “这两样” as the object that will be handled in “把这两样都放回去”. The construction focuses on what happens to the supplies: they are put back. Use 把 before an object when describing a specific action performed on that object.
样
样 in “这两样” refers to the two items being discussed: the cleaning cloth and the cleaning spray. It treats them together as two kinds or items of supplies. The complete expression “这两样” means “these two items” in this dialogue.
都
都 means “both” in “这两样都放回去。”. It shows that the action applies to each of the two items, not just one. Place 都 before the verb when the same action applies to all the items mentioned.
放
放 means “put” or “place” in “放回去”. It describes placing the two supplies somewhere. Here it combines with 回去 to form the complete action “放回去”, meaning to put them back.
回去
回去 means “back” or “back to the original place” in “放回去”. Together, “放回去” means to put the supplies back where they belong. Use 回去 after an action verb when the action returns something to its previous place.
它们
它们 means “they” or “them” for objects in “把它们一起放在盒子里。”. It refers to the cleaning cloth and cleaning spray. Use 它们 when referring back to more than one object.
一起
一起 means “together” in “把它们一起放在盒子里。”. It tells the listener to keep the two supplies in the same place as part of one arrangement. Place 一起 before the action or location phrase it describes.
Grammar Points
把 + 宾语 + 动词 + 回去
把两样都放回去。
Bǎ liǎng yàng dōu fàng huíqù.Put both items back.
把 places the object before the verb and emphasizes what is being put back.
两样都 + 动词
两样都放回去。
Liǎng yàng dōu fàng huíqù.Put both items back.
都 comes before the verb to show that both items are included.
Chinese Vocabulary
擦
verb
cā
wipe; clean
盒子
noun
hézi
box
你
pron
nǐ
you
旁边
noun
pángbiān
beside; next to
清洁布
noun
qīngjié bù
cleaning cloth
清洁喷雾
noun
qīngjié pēnwù
cleaning spray
我
pron
wǒ
I; me
需要
verb
xūyào
need
也
adv
yě
also; too
一
num
yī
one
用
verb
yòng
use
有
verb
yǒu
have; there is/are
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
cleaning spray
Show Answer
清洁喷雾box
Show Answer
盒子beside; next to
Show Answer
旁边cleaning cloth