Checking a Table-Setting List | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Checking a Table-Setting List to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们看看清单。

wǒmen kànkan qīngdān Let's look at the list.

清单在我这里。

qīngdān zài wǒ zhèlǐ I have it here.

杯子准备好了吗？

bēizi zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma Are the cups ready?

我把它们都洗好了。

wǒ bǎ tāmen dōu xǐ hǎo le I washed them all.

有什么东西少了吗？

yǒu shénme dōngxi shǎo le ma Is anything missing?

我们还需要一把勺子。

wǒmen hái xūyào yì bǎ sháozi We still need one spoon.

我可以再拿一把。

wǒ kéyǐ zài ná yì bǎ I can get another one.

那桌子就摆好了。

nà zhuōzi jiù bǎi hǎo le Then the table is set.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” and refers to the speaker and the listener together in “我们看看清单”。 It is used as the subject before an action, such as making a joint suggestion. You would use it when proposing or describing something that you and another person do together.

看看 “看看” means “take a look” or “check briefly” in “我们看看清单”。 The repeated form gives the action a light, brief feel rather than presenting it as a major task. It is useful when casually suggesting that someone look at an item or list.

清单 “清单” means “list” in “我们看看清单”。 Here it is the list used to check what is needed for setting the table. It commonly appears as the object of an action such as looking at or checking something, and you would use it when referring to an organized list of items.

在 “在” shows where something is located in “清单在我这里”。 It connects the item with its location, so the sentence says that the list is with the speaker. A common reuse is to place it before a person or place to state where an item is.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我这里”。 Here it identifies the speaker as the person who has the list nearby. You use it when referring to yourself as the person doing an action or connected with an object.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “清单在我这里”。 Together with “我”, it indicates that the list is here with the speaker. You would use it when showing or locating something near yourself.

杯子 “杯子” refers to the cups being checked in “杯子准备好了吗？”。 It names the tableware whose readiness is being confirmed. You would use it when talking about cups as objects to prepare, wash, or place.

准备 “准备” refers to preparing or getting ready in “准备好”。 Here it names the preparation of the cups, while “准备好” expresses that they have reached a ready state. You would use it when talking about getting an item or task ready for use.

好 “好” follows “准备” in “准备好了吗？” and shows that the preparation has reached a satisfactory, ready state. It helps turn the action of preparing into a question about whether the result is complete. You would use this form when checking whether something is ready to use.

了 The “了” in “准备好了吗？” points to a changed situation: the cups may now be ready. In this question, it asks whether the preparation has reached that new state. You would use it when checking whether an expected change or completion has happened.

吗 “吗” marks “准备好了吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence after the information being checked. You would use it when asking someone to confirm whether something is true or complete.

把 “把” in “我把它们都洗好了” brings the cups forward as the objects being handled. The following action describes what was done to those objects and its result. A common reuse places it before an object, followed by an action that affects or changes that object.

它们 “它们” means “they” or “them” for the cups in “我把它们都洗好了”。 It avoids repeating “杯子” and functions as the object of the washing action. You would use it to refer back to several non-human things already mentioned.

都 “都” means “all” in “我把它们都洗好了”。 It shows that the washing applied to every one of the cups, not just some of them. It commonly appears before the verb when describing an action that applies to all members of a group.

洗 “洗” means “wash” in “我把它们都洗好了”。 Here it describes the cleaning action performed on the cups. You would use it before the item being washed when talking about cleaning tableware or other objects.

有 “有” in “有什么东西少了吗？” asks whether something exists or is present in the situation, giving the question the meaning “is there anything...?” It introduces the unspecified item being checked for. You would use it when checking whether an item is available or present.

什么 “什么” means “what” and contributes the idea of “anything” in “有什么东西少了吗？”。 Together with the following noun, it asks what kind of item may be missing. You would use it before a noun when asking about an unidentified thing.

东西 “东西” means “thing” or “item” in “有什么东西少了吗？”。 It refers generally to an item on the table-setting list without naming it yet. You would use it after a word such as “什么” when the specific object is unknown.

少 “少” describes something as lacking or being short in “有什么东西少了吗？”。 The question checks whether the expected set of items is incomplete. You would use it when asking whether an amount or collection has fewer items than needed.

还 “还” means “still” in “我们还需要一把勺子”。 It shows that the need remains after the other items have been checked. You would use it before an action or need that continues to apply.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我们还需要一把勺子”。 It takes the needed item after it, here identifying one spoon as the remaining requirement. You would use it when stating what item or action is required.

勺子 “勺子” means “spoon” in “一把勺子”。 It names the table-setting item that is still needed. You would use it when referring to a spoon as an item to obtain, wash, or place.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “be able to” in “我可以再拿一把”。 The speaker uses it to say that getting an additional spoon is possible for them. You would use it before a verb when offering or stating that an action can be done.

再 “再” means “again” or “one more” in “我可以再拿一把”。 Here it indicates an additional spoon, because one spoon is still missing. You would use it before an action when adding another occurrence or another item.

拿 “拿” means “take” or “get” in “我可以再拿一把”。 It describes retrieving an additional spoon to solve the shortage. You would use it with an object when taking or obtaining something.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” at the beginning of “那桌子就摆好了”。 It connects the previous solution with the conclusion that the table will be ready. You would use it when drawing a consequence from information just mentioned.

桌子 “桌子” means “table” in “那桌子就摆好了”。 It is the table whose setting will be complete after the missing spoon is added. You would use it when talking about the table as an object being prepared or arranged.

就 “就” marks the consequence in “那桌子就摆好了”。 It shows that once the missing item is obtained, the table is consequently ready. You would use it to connect a situation or decision with its expected result.

摆 “摆” means “set” or “arrange” in “摆好了”。 Here it refers to arranging the table for use, while “摆好了” says the arrangement is successfully complete. You would use it when describing the placement of objects in an orderly position.

Grammar Points

动词 + 好

准备好 / 洗好 / 摆好

zhǔnbèi hǎo / xǐ hǎo / bǎi hǎo

be ready / wash and finish / set up properly

好 after a verb shows that the action is completed and the result is ready.

还 + 动词

还需要

hái xūyào

still need

还 comes before the verb to show that something is still needed or has not changed yet.

Chinese Vocabulary

杯子 noun

bēizi cup

杯子准备好了吗?

东西 noun

dōngxi thing

有什么东西少了吗?

都 adv

dōu all

我把它们都洗好了。

还需要 verb

hái xūyào still need

我们还需要一把勺子。

看看 verb

kànkan have a look

我们看看清单。

清单 noun

qīngdān list

我们看看清单。

勺子 noun

sháozi spoon

我们还需要一把勺子。

少 adj

shǎo be missing; be short

有什么东西少了吗?

洗好 verb

xǐ hǎo wash and finish

我把它们都洗好了。

再 adv

zài another; again

我可以再拿一把。

这里 adv

zhèlǐ here

清单在我这里。

准备好 adj

zhǔnbèi hǎo be ready

杯子准备好了吗?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

thing

Show Answer

东西

still need

Show Answer

还需要

cup

Show Answer

杯子

have a look

Show Answer

看看