About This Lesson
Use Fixing a light problem to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
灯不亮。
dēng bú liàng The light does not work.
B
你检查开关了吗？
Nǐ jiǎnchá kāiguān le ma? Did you check the switch?
A
我检查过了，但它还是不亮。
Wǒ jiǎnchá guò le, dàn tā háishi bú liàng. I checked it, and it still does not work.
B
灯泡可能旧了。
Dēngpào kěnéng jiù le. Maybe the bulb is old.
A
房间现在太暗了。
Fángjiān xiànzài tài àn le. The room is too dark now.
B
我可以拿一盏小灯来。
Wǒ kěyǐ ná yì zhǎn xiǎo dēng lái. I can bring a small lamp.
A
我们之后应该换灯泡。
Wǒmen zhīhòu yīnggāi huàn dēngpào. We should change the bulb later.
B
换灯泡前先用这盏小灯吧。
Huàn dēngpào qián xiān yòng zhè zhǎn xiǎo dēng ba. Use the lamp until we replace it.Word by Word
灯
In “灯不亮”, “灯” refers to the light or lamp being discussed. It is the subject in the pattern “灯 + 不亮”, which says that a light is not lit or working. You can use it when identifying a light that needs attention.
不
In “灯不亮”, “不” makes the statement negative: the light is not lit. It comes before “亮” in the pattern “不 + 亮”. Use it before a description or action when stating that it does not happen or does not apply.
亮
In “灯不亮”, “亮” describes the light as being lit or working as a light. It follows “不” to describe the light’s condition. You can use it when talking about whether a lamp or light is giving light.
你
In “你检查开关了吗？”, “你” means the person being addressed, or “you”. It comes before the action “检查” as the subject. Use it when asking another person about their action or condition.
检查
In “你检查开关了吗？” and “我检查过了”, “检查” means to check or inspect something. It is used before the object, as in “检查开关”. You can use it when examining a switch, device, or other thing to find a problem.
开关
In “你检查开关了吗？”, “开关” means the switch that controls the light. It is the object of “检查” in “检查开关”. Use it when referring to a household switch or another control switch.
了
In “你检查开关了吗？”, the sentence-final “了” asks whether the checking has happened or is now done. In “我检查过了”, it presents the checking as completed and relevant now. New example: “你买票了吗？” asks whether someone has bought the ticket.
吗
In “你检查开关了吗？”, “吗” turns the statement into a yes-or-no question. It appears at the end of the sentence. New example: “你累吗？” asks whether someone is tired.
我
In “我检查过了” and “我可以拿一盏小灯来”, “我” means the speaker, or “I” or “me”. It appears before the action or ability being described. Use it when talking about your own action, ability, or situation.
过
In “我检查过了”, “过” shows that the checking has occurred before now or has already been done. It follows “检查” in “检查过”. New example: “我看过了” says that I have already seen or watched it.
但
In “我检查过了，但它还是不亮”, “但” means “but” and marks a contrast. It connects the completed checking with the continuing problem. Use the pattern “clause 1 + 但 + clause 2” when the second statement contrasts with the first.
它
In “它还是不亮”, “它” refers to the light being discussed and means “it”. It is the subject before the condition “还是不亮”. Use it for a non-human thing when its identity is already clear from the context.
还是
In “它还是不亮”, “还是” means “still”, showing that the light remains unlit after it was checked. It comes before the condition in “还是不亮”. Use “还是 + condition” when a situation continues unchanged.
灯泡
In “灯泡可能旧了” and “换灯泡”, “灯泡” means “light bulb”. It is the possible source of the problem and the object of “换”. Use it when discussing checking, replacing, or buying a bulb.
可能
In “灯泡可能旧了”, “可能” expresses possibility rather than certainty: the bulb may be old. It comes before the description “旧了”. Use “可能 + description or action” when giving a tentative explanation.
旧
In “灯泡可能旧了”, “旧” describes the bulb as old. Here it is offered as a possible reason that the light does not work. You can use it to describe an object whose age or condition may require replacement.
房间
In “房间现在太暗了”, “房间” means “room”. It is the subject whose lighting condition is being described. Use it before a description when talking about the condition of a room.
现在
In “房间现在太暗了”, “现在” means “now” and places the situation at the present time. It comes before the description “太暗了”. Use it when emphasizing the current condition or timing of an action.
太
In “房间现在太暗了”, “太” means “too” or “overly” and shows that the darkness is beyond a suitable level. It comes before the adjective “暗”. Use “太 + description” to say that something has an excessive degree of a quality.
暗
In “房间现在太暗了”, “暗” describes the room as dark or lacking enough light. It follows “太” in “太暗了”. You can use it to describe a room or place where it is difficult to see.
可以
In “我可以拿一盏小灯来”, “可以” means “can” and presents bringing the lamp as possible for the speaker. It comes before the action “拿”. Use “可以 + action” when offering or describing an available ability or possibility.
拿
In “拿一盏小灯来”, “拿” means to take or bring the small lamp, with “来” showing movement toward the relevant place or speaker. The object follows it in “拿一盏小灯”. Use “拿 + object + 来” when bringing something toward a place or person.
盏
In “一盏小灯”, “盏” is the measure word used for a lamp. It appears between “一” and “小灯”. New example: “两盏灯” means two lamps.
小
In “一盏小灯”, “小” describes the lamp as small. It comes before the noun “灯” in “小灯”. Use an adjective before a noun when describing the size or quality of an object.
来
In “拿一盏小灯来”, “来” shows that the lamp is being brought toward the relevant place or speaker. It follows the object phrase in “拿一盏小灯来”. Use it after an action when the movement is toward the place connected with the conversation.
我们
In “我们之后应该换灯泡”, “我们” means “we” or “us”, referring here to the speakers together. It is the subject before the later action “换灯泡”. Use it when including yourself and one or more other people in an action.
之后
In “我们之后应该换灯泡”, “之后” means “later” or “afterwards”. It places replacing the bulb after the current situation. Use it as a time expression before an action that will happen later.
应该
In “我们之后应该换灯泡”, “应该” means “should” and presents replacing the bulb as the appropriate action. It comes before the verb “换”. Use “应该 + action” when giving advice or stating what is appropriate to do.
换
In “我们之后应该换灯泡” and “换灯泡前”, “换” means to change or replace something. Here its object is “灯泡”, so it means replacing the bulb. Use “换 + object” when one thing is changed for another or replaced.
前
In “换灯泡前”, “前” means “before”. It follows the action phrase “换灯泡” to form a time expression meaning before replacing the bulb. New example: “下班前” means before getting off work.
先
In “换灯泡前先用这盏小灯吧”, “先” means “first” or “for now” and indicates that using the small lamp comes before replacing the bulb. It comes before the action “用”. Use “先 + action” when suggesting an earlier or temporary step.
用
In “先用这盏小灯吧”, “用” means “use”, with “这盏小灯” as its object. It describes using the small lamp temporarily. Use “用 + thing” when saying what someone uses for an action or purpose.
这
In “这盏小灯”, “这” means “this” and points to a specific small lamp available in the situation. It comes before the measure word “盏”. New example: “这本书” means this book.
吧
In “换灯泡前先用这盏小灯吧”, “吧” softens the sentence into a suggestion. It appears at the end after the proposed action. New example: “我们先走吧” suggests that we leave first.
Grammar Points
太 + 形容词
房间太暗。
Fángjiān tài àn.The room is too dark.
太放在形容词前，表示程度过高，相当于“too”。
先……，之后……
先用小灯，之后换灯泡。
Xiān yòng xiǎo dēng, zhīhòu huàn dēngpào.Use the small lamp first, then replace the light bulb.
先表示先做一件事，之后表示稍后再做另一件事。
Chinese Vocabulary
暗
adj
àn
dark
房间现在太暗了。
灯不亮
phrase
dēng bú liàng
the light does not work
灯不亮。
灯泡
noun
dēngpào
light bulb
灯泡可能旧了。
房间
noun
fángjiān
room
房间现在太暗了。
还是
adv
háishi
still
它还是不亮。
检查
verb
jiǎnchá
to check
你检查开关了吗?
旧
adj
jiù
old
灯泡可能旧了。
开关
noun
kāiguān
switch
你检查开关了吗?
可能
adv
kěnéng
maybe; possibly
灯泡可能旧了。
拿
verb
ná
to bring; to take
我可以拿一盏小灯来。
太
adv
tài
too; excessively
房间现在太暗了。
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
房间现在太暗了。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to check
Show Answer
检查the light does not work
Show Answer
灯不亮maybe; possibly
Show Answer
可能now