Using a Shared Meeting Room | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a shared meeting room, two adults talk about using a table and leaving the room clean for the next group..

EN → ZH / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a Shared Meeting Room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我们可以使用共享会议室吗？

wǒmen kěyǐ shǐyòng gòngxiǎng huìyìshì ma? Can we use the shared meeting room?
B

可以，但请保持整洁，方便其他人使用。

kěyǐ, dàn qǐng bǎochí zhěngjié, fāngbiàn qítā rén shǐyòng. You can, but keep it tidy for other people.
A

这张桌子有人用吗？

zhè zhāng zhuōzi yǒu rén yòng ma? Is this table free?
B

现在可以用。

xiànzài kěyǐ yòng. It is available now.
A

我会把包放在墙边。

wǒ huì bǎ bāo fàng zài qiángbiān. I will put my bag by the wall.
B

请保持桌面整洁。

qǐng bǎochí zhuōmiàn zhěngjié. Please keep the table clear.
A

我们用完后会把房间打扫干净。

wǒmen yòng wán hòu huì bǎ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng. We will leave the room clean when we finish.
B

这样可以帮助下一组人。

zhèyàng kěyǐ bāngzhù xià yì zǔ rén. That helps the next group.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” and is the subject in “我们可以使用共享会议室吗？” and “我们用完后会把房间打扫干净。” It commonly comes before the verb in a sentence, as in 我们 + verb. Use it when speaking about yourself together with other people.
可以 “可以” expresses permission or possibility here: “我们可以使用共享会议室吗？” asks whether the room may be used, and “可以” gives permission. It commonly comes before a verb, as in 可以 + verb. Use it when asking for or giving permission in a shared space.
使用 “使用” means “use” in “我们可以使用共享会议室吗？” It is followed by the thing being used, here 共享会议室. Use it when talking about using a room, tool, or other resource.
共享 “共享” means “shared” in “共享会议室,” describing a room used by more than one group or person. It commonly comes before a noun, as in 共享 + noun. Use it when referring to a resource that people use together.
会议室 “会议室” means “meeting room” in “共享会议室.” It is the room that the speakers want to use. Use it when asking about or referring to a room for meetings.
吗 “吗” is placed at the end of “我们可以使用共享会议室吗？” to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question. It follows the sentence rather than the particular noun or verb being questioned. Use it for a simple question about permission or information.
但 “但” means “but” and introduces the condition in “可以，但请保持整洁.” It connects permission with a contrasting request. Use it to add a limitation or condition after a statement.
请 “请” makes “保持整洁” a polite request in “但请保持整洁.” It comes before the requested action. Use it when asking someone politely to do something.
保持 “保持” means “keep” or “maintain” in “请保持整洁” and “请保持桌面整洁.” It is followed by the condition or state that should continue, such as 整洁. Use the pattern 保持 + condition when asking someone to leave something in a certain state.
整洁 “整洁” means “tidy” or “clean” in “请保持整洁.” It describes the condition that should be maintained. Use it after 保持 when asking people to keep a room or area neat.
方便 “方便” means “make it convenient for” in “方便其他人使用.” Here, keeping the room tidy makes it easier for other people to use it. A common pattern is 方便 + person + verb, as in 方便其他人使用. Use it when describing an action that makes something easier for someone else.
其他人 “其他人” means “other people” in “方便其他人使用.” It identifies the people who will use the room after the current users. Use it after an expression such as 方便 when explaining who benefits from an action.
这 “这” means “this” in “这张桌子有人用吗？” It points to the table being indicated in the room. It commonly comes before a classifier and noun, as in 这 + 张 + 桌子. Use it when identifying a nearby object.
张 “张” is the classifier used in “这张桌子” for the table. It comes between 这 and 桌子 in this phrase. Use the pattern demonstrative or number + 张 + noun when referring to a table or another flat object.
桌子 “桌子” means “table” in “这张桌子有人用吗？” and “请保持桌面整洁.” In the first sentence it is the table whose availability is being checked. Use it when referring to a table in a room or shared area.
有人 “有人” means “someone” or “there is someone” in “这张桌子有人用吗？” The full question asks whether someone is using the table. It commonly comes before an action to indicate that someone is doing it. Use it when checking whether a place or object is occupied.
用 “用” means “use” in “这张桌子有人用吗？” and “现在可以用.” In these lines, the object is understood from the context: the table or shared room. Use it before an object when naming what is used, or by itself when the object is already clear.
现在 “现在” means “now” in “现在可以用.” It places the availability at the present time. It commonly comes before the verb or expression it describes. Use it when saying what is possible at the current time.
我 “我” means “I” or “me” and is the subject in “我会把包放在墙边.” It identifies the person who will place the bag. It commonly comes before the action, as in 我 + verb. Use it when talking about your own action.
会 “会” means “will” in “我会把包放在墙边,” referring to a planned future action. It comes before the verb phrase that describes the action. Use the pattern 会 + verb when saying that someone will do something.
把 “把” introduces the object affected by the action in “我会把包放在墙边.” The pattern 把 + object + verb + location puts 包 before 放 to show what is being placed. Use it when describing what someone does to a specific object and what happens to that object.
包 “包” means “bag” in “我会把包放在墙边.” It is the object being placed by the speaker. It appears after 把 in the pattern 把包放在 + location. Use it when referring to a bag that is being carried or placed.
放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “把包放在墙边.” It describes moving the bag to a particular location. A reusable pattern is 放 + object + 在 + place, as in 放包在墙边 within the full 把 construction. Use it when saying where an object is placed.
在 “在” marks the location in “放在墙边.” It connects the action of placing the bag with the place where it will be. It commonly comes before a location, as in 在 + place. Use it when stating where something is or where an action places something.
墙边 “墙边” means “by the wall” in “我会把包放在墙边.” It names the location where the bag will be placed. It commonly follows 在 in a location phrase, as in 在墙边. Use it when describing a position next to a wall.
桌面 “桌面” means “tabletop” in “请保持桌面整洁.” It identifies the surface that should be kept tidy. It appears before the condition 整洁 in 保持桌面整洁. Use it when talking specifically about the top surface of a table.
用完 “用完” means “finish using” in “我们用完后会把房间打扫干净.” The form combines 用, “use,” with 完 to show that the use has been completed. It commonly comes before 后 in 用完后. Use it when referring to finishing the use of a room, object, or resource.
后 “后” means “after” in “用完后.” It follows 用完 to make a time phrase meaning “after finishing using it.” It commonly follows an action or event to show what happens afterward. Use it when describing the next action after something is completed.
房间 “房间” means “room” in “把房间打扫干净.” It is the place that will be cleaned before the speakers leave it. It appears after 把 as the object affected by the cleaning action. Use it when referring to the room itself.
打扫 “打扫” means “clean” as an action in “把房间打扫干净.” It describes cleaning the room, while 干净 describes the resulting state. It commonly comes before the place or object being cleaned, as in 打扫房间. Use it when talking about cleaning a room or area.
干净 “干净” means “clean” as the result in “把房间打扫干净.” It follows 打扫 to show that the room is cleaned to a clean state. A common pattern is 打扫 + object + 干净. Use it when emphasizing the condition achieved after cleaning.
这样 “这样” means “this way” or “that” in “这样可以帮助下一组人.” It refers to the preceding action of leaving the room clean. It commonly comes at the beginning of a sentence to refer to an earlier action or arrangement. Use it when explaining the benefit of what has just been done.
帮助 “帮助” means “help” in “这样可以帮助下一组人.” The people receiving the help are specified after it, here 下一组人. It commonly follows 可以 and comes before the person or group helped. Use it when explaining that an action benefits someone.
下一组 “下一组” means “the next group” in “帮助下一组人.” It refers to the group that will use the room after the current speakers. It comes before 人 to identify the people as a group. Use it when referring to the group that follows the current one.
人 “人” means “people” or “person” in “下一组人.” Here it completes the phrase by specifying that 下一组 is a group of people. It commonly follows a group expression when identifying who belongs to that group. Use it when referring to people rather than an object or place.

Grammar Points

有人 + 动词

有人用会议室。

yǒu rén yòng huìyìshì.

Someone is using the meeting room.

有人 means “someone” and comes before the verb to introduce an indefinite person.

动词 + 完

用完会议室，打扫干净。

yòng wán huìyìshì, dǎsǎo gānjìng.

After finishing using the meeting room, clean it.

完 after a verb shows that the action has been completed.

Chinese Vocabulary

包 noun
bāo bag

我会把包放在墙边

保持 verb
bǎochí to keep; to maintain

请保持整洁

方便 verb
fāngbiàn to make it convenient for

方便其他人使用

共享 adj
gòngxiǎng shared

共享会议室

会议室 noun
huìyìshì meeting room

共享会议室

可用 adj
kěyòng available; usable

现在可以用

其他人 noun
qítā rén other people

方便其他人使用

使用 verb
shǐyòng to use

我们可以使用共享会议室吗?

现在 adv
xiànzài now

现在可以用

有人用 phrase
yǒu rén yòng someone is using it

这张桌子有人用吗?

整洁 adj
zhěngjié tidy; neat

请保持整洁

桌子 noun
zhuōzi table

这张桌子有人用吗?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

now

Show Answer现在

table

Show Answer桌子

tidy; neat

Show Answer整洁

available; usable

Show Answer可用