About This Lesson
Use Using a Shared Laundry Room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我可以用公共洗衣房吗？
wǒ kěyǐ yòng gōnggòng xǐyīfáng ma Can I use the shared laundry room?
B
现在开着。
xiànzài kāizhe It is open now.
A
这台洗衣机空着吗？
zhè tái xǐyījī kōngzhe ma Is this machine free?
B
这台可以用。
zhè tái kěyǐ yòng This one is available.
A
我的篮子应该放在哪里？
wǒ de lánzi yīnggāi fàng zài nǎlǐ Where should I put my basket?
B
把它放在墙边。
bǎ tā fàng zài qiángbiān Set it beside the wall.
A
洗完后我会把衣服拿出来。
xǐ wán hòu wǒ huì bǎ yīfu ná chūlái I will take my clothes out when the wash is done.
B
请马上把衣服拿走。
qǐng mǎshàng bǎ yīfu ná zǒu Please collect them right away.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” in 我可以用公共洗衣房吗？ and 我的篮子. It identifies the person asking permission and the person who owns the basket. A learner can reuse 我 before an action when speaking about themselves in a shared facility.
可以
可以 means “can” or “be allowed to” in 我可以用公共洗衣房吗？. It asks whether the speaker has permission to do the action that follows, 用公共洗衣房. This is useful when asking permission to use a shared room or item.
用
用 means “use” in 用公共洗衣房. It is followed here by the thing being used, 公共洗衣房. Use this pattern when asking to use a machine, room, or other available item.
公共
公共 means “public” or “shared” in 公共洗衣房. It describes a facility intended for use by multiple people and comes before the noun 洗衣房. This form is useful when identifying a shared facility.
洗衣房
洗衣房 means “laundry room” in 公共洗衣房. It is the place that the speaker asks to use in 我可以用公共洗衣房吗？. Use it after a modifier such as 公共 when naming the laundry facility.
吗
吗 is a yes-no question particle at the end of 我可以用公共洗衣房吗？. It turns the preceding statement into a question about permission. This is useful when asking whether an action is allowed.
现在
现在 means “now” in 现在开着。. It gives the time for the room’s current open state and comes before the predicate 开着. Use it when checking whether a place is available at the present moment.
开
开 means “be open” in 开着, describing the laundry room’s open state in 现在开着。. Here it is followed by 着 because the open state is continuing. This form is useful when stating that a room is currently open.
着
着 indicates a continuing state in 开着, so 现在开着 means that the room is open now. It follows 开 to show that the state continues rather than describing a single change. Use the exact pattern 开着 when describing a place that remains open.
这
这 means “this” in 这台洗衣机 and 这台。. It points to the particular machine being discussed and comes before the classifier 台. This is useful when selecting one nearby machine or object.
台
台 is the classifier used with machines in 这台洗衣机 and 这台。. It appears between 这 and 洗衣机 when identifying one machine. Use the pattern 这台 + machine name when pointing out a specific machine.
洗衣机
洗衣机 means “washing machine” in 这台洗衣机. It is the machine whose availability is being checked in 这台洗衣机空着吗？. Use it when naming the appliance used to wash clothes.
空
空 means “free” or “unoccupied” in 空着吗？, referring to a machine that is not currently being used. It combines with 着 to describe the machine’s continuing available state. This is useful when asking whether a machine is free.
的
的 links a possessor to a noun in 我的篮子, meaning “my basket.” It connects 我 with 篮子 and appears between them. Use the pattern person + 的 + noun when identifying something that belongs to someone.
篮子
篮子 means “basket” in 我的篮子. It is the object whose location the speaker asks about in 我的篮子应该放在哪里？. Use it when referring to the basket used to carry the clothes.
应该
应该 means “should” in 我的篮子应该放在哪里？. It asks for the appropriate action or location and comes before 放. This is useful when asking where an item is supposed to be placed.
放
放 means “put” or “place” in 我的篮子应该放在哪里？ and 把它放在墙边。. It describes placing an object in a location, with the location marked by 在 in the second expression. Use 放 when asking or telling someone where to place an item.
在
在 marks the location after 放 in 放在墙边。. It connects the placing action with the location 墙边. Use the pattern 放在 + place when giving a location for an object.
哪里
哪里 means “where” in 放在哪里？. It asks for the location of the basket and follows the phrase 放在. Use the pattern verb + 在哪里 when asking where something should be placed.
把
把 marks the object before the action in 把它放在墙边。. It presents 它 first and then describes what should be done with it, 放在墙边. This pattern is useful when giving a direct instruction about placing a specific object.
它
它 means “it” in 把它放在墙边。. Here it refers to the basket mentioned in the preceding question and functions as the object of the instruction. Use it when the object is already clear from the conversation.
墙边
墙边 means “beside the wall” in 放在墙边。. It names the location where the basket should be placed. Use it after 放在 when directing someone to place an item next to the wall.
洗
洗 means “wash” in 洗完后。. It names the washing action that must be completed before the speaker takes out the clothes. Use it in this pattern when referring to the washing process in the laundry room.
完
完 marks completion in 洗完, meaning that the washing has finished. It follows 洗 and combines with 后 in 洗完后 to mean “after the washing is done.” This is useful when referring to an action that must be completed first.
后
后 means “after” in 洗完后。. It follows the completed action 洗完 and introduces the time when the next action will happen. Use the pattern completed action + 后 when describing what happens afterward.
会
会 means “will” or “be going to” in 我会把衣服拿出来。. It expresses the speaker’s planned future action after the wash is done. Use 会 before an action when stating what you intend or expect to do.
衣服
衣服 means “clothes” in 把衣服拿出来 and 把衣服拿走。. It is the item being removed from the machine and collected promptly. Use it after 把 when describing what should happen to the clothes.
拿
拿 means “take” in 拿出来 and 拿走。. The following directional component changes the movement described: 出来 indicates taking something out, while 走 indicates taking it away. This is useful when describing removing clothes from a machine or clearing them from a shared space.
出来
出来 indicates movement outward in 拿出来, meaning to take the clothes out. It follows 拿 and specifies the direction of the action in 我会把衣服拿出来。. Use this form when removing something from inside a machine or room.
请
请 means “please” at the beginning of 请马上把衣服拿走。. It makes the instruction to remove the clothes a polite request. Use it when asking another person to carry out an action in a shared space.
马上
马上 means “right away” in 请马上把衣服拿走。. It tells the listener that the action should happen without delay and comes before 把衣服拿走. This is useful when asking someone to collect clothes promptly so that another person can use the machine.
走
走 indicates movement away in 拿走, meaning to take the clothes away from the current place. It follows 拿 and completes the direction of that action. Use 拿走 when asking someone to remove an item from a shared area.
Grammar Points
V完
衣服洗完。
yīfu xǐ wánThe clothes are finished washing.
完 follows a verb to show that an action has been completed.
V出来 / V走
请马上拿出来。
qǐng mǎshàng ná chūláiPlease take it out right away.
出来 and 走 follow a verb to show movement outward or away.
Chinese Vocabulary
放
verb
fàng
put; place
公共
adj
gōnggòng
shared; public
开着
verb
kāizhe
be open
空着
adj
kōngzhe
be free; be unoccupied
篮子
noun
lánzi
basket
哪里
pron
nǎlǐ
where
墙边
phrase
qiángbiān
beside the wall
洗衣房
noun
xǐyīfáng
laundry room
洗衣机
noun
xǐyījī
washing machine
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
用
verb
yòng
use
这台
pron
zhè tái
this one (machine)
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
laundry room
Show Answer
洗衣房now
Show Answer
现在where
Show Answer
哪里washing machine