About This Lesson
Use Checking a Room Before Use to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
房间准备好了吗？
fángjiān zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma? Is the room ready?
B
椅子都摆好了。
yǐzi dōu bǎi hǎo le. The chairs are in place.
A
屏幕能用吗？
píngmù néng yòng ma? Is the screen working?
B
画面很清楚。
huàmiàn hěn qīngchu. The picture looks clear.
A
我们有记号笔吗？
wǒmen yǒu jìhàobǐ ma? Do we have markers?
B
它们在桌子上。
tāmen zài zhuōzi shàng. They're on the table.
A
有空间走动吗？
yǒu kōngjiān zǒudòng ma? Is there space to move around?
B
有足够的空间走动。
yǒu zúgòu de kōngjiān zǒudòng. There's enough room to walk around.Word by Word
房间
房间 means “room” here, the place being checked before use. It is the subject in 房间准备好了吗？ and can be used as the subject when describing a room’s condition. This is useful when checking or discussing an indoor space.
准备
准备 contributes the idea of getting ready in 房间准备好了, so the room has been made ready. It combines with 好 to describe reaching a ready state. You can use it when preparing a room, object, or activity.
好
好 shows that the preparing in 准备好 has reached a satisfactory or ready result. In 房间准备好了吗？, it asks whether that result has been reached. It commonly follows an action to show that the action is properly completed.
了
了 marks the changed or completed state in 房间准备好了吗？: the room is now ready. It appears after 好 because the ready state is the result being checked. Use it when asking or stating whether a situation has reached a new state.
吗
吗 turns 房间准备好了吗？ into a yes-no question. It comes at the end of this question after the statement being checked. Use it to ask for a simple confirmation.
椅子
椅子 means “chair” or “chairs” here, referring to the chairs in the room. It is the subject in 椅子都摆好了。 and is being checked for placement. You can use it when discussing chairs as objects in a room.
都
都 means “all” here, showing that the statement applies to all the chairs in 椅子都摆好了。 It comes before 摆好了 to cover the whole group. Use it before the verb or description when saying that every member of a group has the same situation.
摆
摆 means to place or arrange in 椅子都摆好了。 It describes putting the chairs into their positions, while 好 shows that the arrangement is complete. Use it when arranging objects in a room or on a surface.
屏幕
屏幕 means “screen” here, referring to the screen whose function is being checked. It is the subject in 屏幕能用吗？ and is followed by the question about whether it can be used. This is useful when checking display equipment.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in 屏幕能用吗？, asking whether the screen is usable. It comes before 用 to express possibility or capability. Use it when checking whether equipment can perform its intended function.
用
用 contributes the idea of being used in 屏幕能用吗？, so the question asks whether the screen works for use. It follows 能 in this expression. Use it when discussing whether an object or piece of equipment is usable.
画面
画面 means the picture or image shown on the screen in 画面很清楚。 It is the subject whose clarity is being described. Use it when talking about what appears on a screen or display.
很
很 comes before 清楚 in 画面很清楚。 to form the natural adjective description “clear” or “very clear.” It connects the subject 画面 with the description 清楚. Use the pattern 很 plus an adjective when describing something in a simple statement.
清楚
清楚 means “clear” here, describing the image in 画面很清楚。 It tells the listener that the picture can be seen clearly. Use it when checking whether an image, message, or information is clear.
我们
我们 means “we” or “us” here and is the subject in 我们有记号笔吗？ It identifies the group checking whether markers are available. Use it before the verb when speaking about what the speaker and others have or do.
有
有 means “have” in 我们有记号笔吗？, asking whether the group has markers. In 有足够的空间走动。 it means that enough space exists. Use it after a subject for possession, or at the beginning of an existence statement.
记号笔
记号笔 means “marker” here, referring to the writing tools needed in the room. It is the object after 有 in 我们有记号笔吗？ and is being checked as a supply. Use it when asking about or identifying markers.
它们
它们 means “they” or “them” for objects here, referring to the markers. It is the subject in 它们在桌子上。 and is followed by their location. Use it before a verb when referring back to several non-human objects.
在
在 shows location in 它们在桌子上。, telling us where the markers are. It comes after the subject and before the place phrase 桌子上. Use the pattern subject plus 在 plus a place when stating where something is.
桌子
桌子 means “table” here, the surface where the markers are located. It appears in the place phrase 在桌子上。 Use it when identifying a table as the location or surface for objects.
上
上 means “on” in 桌子上, indicating the position on the table’s surface. It follows 桌子 and combines with 在 in 在桌子上。 Use it after a noun to describe something being on or above that place.
空间
空间 means “space” here, specifically space available for moving around. It is the object of 有 in 有空间走动吗？ and is modified by 足够的 in 有足够的空间走动。 Use it when checking whether a room has room for an activity or movement.
走动
走动 means to move or walk around in 有空间走动吗？ and 有足够的空间走动。 It describes the activity that the available space must allow. Use it when discussing movement around a room or other area.
足够
足够 means “enough” in 足够的空间, showing that the available space is sufficient for walking around. With 的, it modifies the noun 空间. Use it when confirming that a quantity or amount meets a practical need.
的
的 links the modifier 足够 to the noun 空间 in 足够的空间, giving the meaning “enough space.” It comes between the describing word and the noun. Use the pattern modifier plus 的 plus noun when describing a noun.
Grammar Points
动词 + 好了
椅子摆好了。
yǐzi bǎi hǎo le.The chairs are arranged.
“好了”表示动作已经完成，并强调现在处于完成后的状态。
Chinese Vocabulary
摆好
verb
bǎi hǎo
put in place; arrange properly
摆好了
椅子都摆好了。
房间
noun
fángjiān
room
房间准备好了吗?
画面
noun
huàmiàn
picture; image
画面很清楚。
记号笔
noun
jìhàobǐ
marker
我们有记号笔吗?
空间
noun
kōngjiān
space
有空间走动吗?
屏幕
noun
píngmù
screen
屏幕能用吗?
清楚
adj
qīngchu
clear
画面很清楚。
椅子
noun
yǐzi
chair
椅子都摆好了。
用
verb
yòng
use; work
屏幕能用吗?
准备好
adj
zhǔnbèi hǎo
be ready
房间准备好了吗?
桌子
noun
zhuōzi
table
它们在桌子上。
走动
verb
zǒudòng
move around; walk around
有空间走动吗?
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
picture; image
Show Answer
画面marker
Show Answer
记号笔be ready
Show Answer
准备好space