About This Lesson
Use Leaving Space in a Crowded Line to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
这队人越来越挤了。
zhè duì rén yuè lái yuè jǐ le This line is getting really crowded.
B
我们在旁边留点空间吧。
wǒmen zài pángbiān liú diǎn kōngjiān ba Let's leave some room on the side.
A
我往后退一点吗？
wǒ wǎng hòu tuì yì diǎn ma Should I move back a little?
B
那样人们会更容易通过。
nà yàng rénmen huì gèng róngyì tōngguò That would make it easier for people to pass.
A
这样够远了吗？
zhè yàng gòu yuǎn le ma Is this far enough?
B
现在有一条畅通的通道了。
xiànzài yǒu yì tiáo chàngtōng de tōngdào le There is a clear path now.
A
我可以站得离墙近一点。
wǒ kěyǐ zhàn de lí qiáng jìn yì diǎn I can stand closer to the wall.
B
这样能让通道保持畅通。
zhè yàng néng ràng tōngdào bǎochí chàngtōng That keeps the walkway open.Word by Word
这
这 means “this” and points to the line being discussed in 这队人. It comes before a noun or noun phrase to identify something specific. Use it when referring to something nearby or already clear in the situation.
队
队 refers to the line or queue in 这队人. Here it identifies an organized group of people waiting together. It can be used before 人 when naming a line or group of people.
人
人 means “people” in 这队人 and identifies who is in the line. Its meaning here comes from the surrounding phrase, not from the character alone. It is commonly used to refer to people in a group or situation.
越来越
越来越 means “increasingly” and shows that the line is becoming more crowded in 越来越挤. It marks a gradual change in degree before a description. A useful pattern is 越来越 + an adjective or state.
挤
挤 means “crowded” here, describing the line as having little space. In 越来越挤, the crowding is increasing. Use it when people or things are packed closely together.
了
了 at the end of 这队人越来越挤了 shows that the situation has changed and is now crowded. It presents a new current state rather than simply naming a permanent quality. It is useful at the end of a sentence when reporting a noticeable change.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” and refers to the speaker and listener in 我们在旁边留点空间吧. It is the subject of the suggested action. Use it before an action when proposing something for both people to do.
在
在 marks the location of the action in 在旁边留点空间, meaning “on the side” or “beside.” It comes before the place phrase. A useful pattern is 在 + place + action.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “on the side” in 在旁边. It identifies the area where the space should be left. It commonly follows 在 when marking a location.
留
留 means “leave” or “keep available” in 留点空间. Here it means not occupying all the area so that space remains open. A useful reuse pattern is 留 + an amount or object, especially when keeping room available.
点
点 means “some” or “a little” in 留点空间, making the requested amount small and unspecified. It comes between the verb 留 and the noun 空间. Use verb + 点 + noun for a modest amount.
空间
空间 means “space” and is the object of 留 in 留点空间. It refers to an open area left for movement. It can be reused after verbs describing creating, leaving, or keeping space.
吧
吧 is a sentence-final particle that makes 我们在旁边留点空间吧 a suggestion: “Let’s leave some space on the side.” It invites the listener to agree or join the action. Use it at the end of a proposed action.
我
我 means “I” or “me” and is the subject in 我往后退一点吗. It shows that the speaker is asking about their own movement. Use it before an action when speaking about what you will or can do.
往
往 marks the direction of movement in 往后退, meaning “move toward the back.” It comes before the direction 后 and the action 退. A useful pattern is 往 + direction + movement verb.
后
后 means “back” or “behind” in 往后退. Together, 往后 identifies the direction in which the speaker should move. It is useful after 往 when describing movement toward the rear.
退
退 means “move back” in 往后退. It describes the speaker stepping backward to create more room. It can be reused after a direction word when describing backward movement.
一点
一点 means “a little” in 退一点, limiting the amount of backward movement. It comes after the action and shows that only a small adjustment is intended. Use verb + 一点 when requesting or describing a small amount of change.
吗
吗 turns 我往后退一点 into a yes-or-no question: “Should I move back a little?” It appears at the end of the sentence. Use it after a statement when asking whether the proposed action is appropriate.
那样
那样 means “that way” and refers to the suggested movement in 那样人们会更容易通过. It points back to an action or arrangement just mentioned. It can be used at the start of a clause to describe the expected result of doing something that way.
人们
人们 means “people” and is the subject of 人们会更容易通过. Here it refers generally to the people who need to walk through the open space. Use it before an action when talking about people as a group.
会
会 indicates an expected result in 人们会更容易通过: people will find it easier to pass through. Here it presents what is likely to happen after the space is opened. A useful pattern is subject + 会 + action or result.
更
更 means “more” in 更容易, comparing the ease of passing before and after space is left. It comes before the description it strengthens. Use 更 + adjective when describing a higher degree.
容易
容易 means “easy” in 更容易通过, describing passing through as easier. It comes before 通过 to express how easy that action is. A useful pattern is 容易 + action.
通过
通过 means “pass through” in 人们会更容易通过. It describes people moving along the newly open route. It can be reused before a place or route when describing movement through it.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “like this” in 这样够远了吗, referring to the speaker’s current position or arrangement. It points to what is being done or shown at the moment. Use it to ask whether the current arrangement is suitable.
够
够 means “enough” in 够远, asking whether the distance is sufficient. It comes before 远 to evaluate the degree of distance. A useful pattern is 够 + adjective.
远
远 means “far” in 这样够远了吗. It describes the distance of the speaker’s position from the crowded area. Together with 够, it checks whether the distance is sufficient.
现在
现在 means “now” and marks the current situation in 现在有一条畅通的通道了. It contrasts the present open route with the earlier crowded situation. Use it at the beginning of a clause when reporting the situation at this moment.
有
有 means “there is” in 现在有一条畅通的通道了, introducing the existence of an open passage. Here it is not about possession. A useful pattern is 有 + quantity or classifier + noun when stating that something exists.
一
一 means “one” in 一条 and gives the quantity of the passage. It comes before the classifier 条. Use 一 + classifier + noun when introducing one item.
条
条 is the classifier used with 通道 in 一条畅通的通道. It counts the passage as one route or channel. A useful reuse pattern is 一条 + a route-like noun.
畅通
畅通 means “clear” or “unobstructed” in 畅通的通道, describing a passage that people can use freely. It also appears in 保持畅通, where the clear condition is maintained. Use it to describe a route or passage without blockage.
的
的 links 畅通 to 通道 in 畅通的通道, turning the description into a phrase that modifies the noun. The phrase means “a clear passage.” A useful pattern is description + 的 + noun.
通道
通道 means “passage” or “walkway” in 畅通的通道. It names the route that people can pass through and the area that should remain open. It can be used as the object of an action that keeps the route clear.
可以
可以 means “can” or “be able to” in 我可以站得离墙近一点. It presents standing closer to the wall as an available option for the speaker. A useful pattern is subject + 可以 + action.
站
站 means “stand” in 我可以站得离墙近一点. It describes the speaker’s position and action. It can follow 可以 when offering or describing the possibility of standing somewhere.
得
得 links 站 to the phrase describing the manner or degree of standing in 站得离墙近一点. The following phrase explains how close the speaker stands to the wall. A useful pattern is verb + 得 + description of manner or degree.
离
离 means “away from” or “at a distance from” in 离墙近一点. It introduces the wall as the reference point for the distance. A useful pattern is 离 + reference point + a distance description.
墙
墙 means “wall” and is the reference point after 离 in 离墙近一点. The phrase describes standing closer to the wall. It can follow 离 when stating distance from a physical place or object.
近
近 means “near” or “close” in 离墙近一点. It describes the desired distance from the wall, with 一点 indicating a small change toward that position. A useful pattern is 离 + place or object + 近.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in 这样能让通道保持畅通. Here it introduces the possible effect of the arrangement: it can keep the walkway clear. A useful pattern is 能 + 让 + object + action or state.
让
让 means “let” or “make” in 能让通道保持畅通. It introduces the result caused for the walkway, namely remaining clear. A useful pattern is 让 + object + action or state.
保持
保持 means “keep” or “maintain” in 保持畅通. It means continuing the walkway’s clear condition instead of allowing it to become blocked. A useful pattern is 保持 + a state or condition.
Grammar Points
越来越 + 形容词
队人越来越挤。
duì rén yuè lái yuè jǐThe people in the line are getting more and more crowded.
越来越 comes before an adjective to show that a quality is increasing over time.
保持 + 形容词
保持畅通。
bǎochí chàngtōngKeep it clear.
保持 means “keep” or “maintain” and is followed by a state or condition.
Chinese Vocabulary
队人
noun
duì rén
people in the line
这队人越来越挤了。
更容易
phrase
gèng róngyì
easier
那样人们会更容易通过。
挤
adj
jǐ
crowded
这队人越来越挤了。
空间
noun
kōngjiān
space; room
我们在旁边留点空间吧。
留
verb
liú
leave; keep
我们在旁边留点空间吧。
那样
pron
nà yàng
that way; like that
那样人们会更容易通过。
旁边
noun
pángbiān
side; beside
我们在旁边留点空间吧。
人们
pron
rénmen
people
那样人们会更容易通过。
退
verb
tuì
move back; step back
我往后退一点吗?
往后
adv
wǎnghòu
backward
我往后退一点吗?
一点
phrase
yì diǎn
a little
我往后退一点吗?
越来越
adv
yuè lái yuè
more and more
这队人越来越挤了。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
a little
Show Answer
一点space; room
Show Answer
空间people
Show Answer
人们backward