About This Lesson
Use Keeping a Shared Bathroom Clean to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我可以用这个共用卫生间吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhège gòngyòng wèishēngjiān ma? Can I use this shared bathroom?
B
可以，请保持洗手池周围干净。
Kěyǐ, qǐng bǎochí xǐshǒuchí zhōuwéi gānjìng. You can, and please keep the sink area clean.
A
我需要一张擦手纸。
Wǒ xūyào yì zhāng cāshǒuzhǐ. I need a paper towel.
B
洗手池旁边有一些。
Xǐshǒuchí pángbiān yǒu yìxiē. There are some near the sink.
A
这个要扔进垃圾桶吗？
Zhège yào rēng jìn lājī tǒng ma? Does this go in the trash?
B
把它放进小垃圾桶里。
Bǎ tā fàng jìn xiǎo lājī tǒng lǐ. Put it in the small bin.
A
我也会很快擦一下洗手池。
Wǒ yě huì hěn kuài cā yíxià xǐshǒuchí. I will wipe the sink quickly too.
B
这样可以帮到下一个人。
Zhèyàng kěyǐ bāng dào xià yí ge rén. That helps the next person.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” in 我可以用这个共用卫生间吗？, identifying the person asking permission. It comes before the action in this sentence. A learner can use it when saying what they themselves need, want, or plan to do.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” in 我可以用这个共用卫生间吗？, asking whether the speaker has permission. It comes before the action 用. Use it when requesting permission for an action.
用
用 means “use” in 我可以用这个共用卫生间吗？, referring to using the bathroom. It is followed by the thing being used, 这个共用卫生间. Use it when asking about or describing the use of an object or place.
这个
这个 means “this” in 这个共用卫生间, identifying the particular bathroom being discussed. It comes before the noun it identifies. Use it when pointing out or selecting a specific thing.
共用
共用 means “shared” in 共用卫生间, describing a bathroom used by more than one person. It comes before the place noun 卫生间. Use it to describe a place or item intended for joint use.
卫生间
卫生间 means “bathroom” in 共用卫生间. Here it names the place that the speaker wants to use and keep clean. It can follow a describing word such as 共用.
吗
吗 turns 我可以用这个共用卫生间 into a yes-or-no question in 我可以用这个共用卫生间吗？. It is placed at the end of the question. Use it after a statement when checking whether something is true or permitted.
请
请 means “please” in 请保持洗手池周围干净, making the following request polite. It comes before the requested action 保持. Use it when giving a courteous instruction or request.
保持
保持 means “keep” or “maintain” in 保持洗手池周围干净, asking that the area remain clean. It is followed by the area and the state 干净. Use it before a place or thing and the condition you want to continue.
洗手池
洗手池 means “sink” in 洗手池周围 and 洗手池旁边. Here it identifies the bathroom fixture whose surrounding area should be clean. It can be followed by a location word to describe an area near it.
周围
周围 means “around” or “the surrounding area” in 洗手池周围. It identifies the area surrounding the sink rather than the sink itself. Use it after a place or object when referring to the area around it.
干净
干净 means “clean” in 保持洗手池周围干净, describing the desired state of the area. It follows the area being described. Use it after a noun when saying that something is clean.
需要
需要 means “need” in 我需要一张擦手纸, stating that the speaker requires a paper towel. It is followed by the needed item 一张擦手纸. Use it before an object when asking for or explaining a necessity.
张
张 is the classifier used in 一张擦手纸 for one flat paper towel. It comes between 一 and the item being counted. Use it when counting flat items.
擦手纸
擦手纸 means “paper towel” in 一张擦手纸. Here it is the item the speaker needs for drying or wiping hands. It can follow the quantity phrase 一张 when requesting one item.
旁边
旁边 means “beside” or “near” in 洗手池旁边, locating the paper towels next to the sink. It follows the reference place 洗手池. Use it after a noun when telling someone where something is located.
有
有 means “there are” in 洗手池旁边有一些, introducing items available at a location. The place comes before 有, and the available quantity 一些 comes after it. Use this pattern when telling someone that something exists or is available somewhere.
一些
一些 means “some” in 洗手池旁边有一些, referring here to some paper towels whose noun is understood from the previous line. It follows 有 to give an unspecified quantity. Use it before a noun when naming some items, or by itself when the item is already clear.
要
要 asks whether the item should or needs to be disposed of in 这个要扔进垃圾桶吗？. It comes before the action 扔进垃圾桶 and asks about the required or intended next step. Use it before an action when checking what should happen.
扔
扔 means “throw away” in 扔进垃圾桶, describing the disposal action. The destination is supplied by 进垃圾桶. Use it with an object when talking about throwing something away.
进
进 means “into” in 扔进垃圾桶, marking the destination that the item enters. It follows the action 扔 and comes before the destination 垃圾桶. Use the pattern of an action followed by 进 and a destination.
垃圾桶
垃圾桶 means “trash bin” in 扔进垃圾桶 and 小垃圾桶里. It names the container for discarded items. Use it when explaining where something should be thrown or placed.
把
把 marks 它 as the object being handled in 把它放进小垃圾桶里. It places the object before the action so the sentence focuses on what is being put somewhere. Use it in a pattern where an object is followed by an action and its result or destination.
它
它 means “it” in 把它放进小垃圾桶里, referring to the item being discussed. Here the item is understood from the preceding question. Use it when referring back to a non-person object that is already clear from context.
放
放 means “put” or “place” in 放进小垃圾桶里, describing placing the item in the bin. The destination is shown by 进小垃圾桶里. Use it when telling someone where to place an object.
小
小 means “small” in 小垃圾桶, distinguishing this bin by its size. It comes directly before the noun 垃圾桶. Use it before a noun when describing something as small.
里
里 means “inside” or “in” at the end of 小垃圾桶里. It completes the location phrase and indicates the inside of the bin. Use it after a container or enclosed place when specifying that something is inside it.
也
也 means “also” or “too” in 我也会很快擦一下洗手池, adding the wiping action to what the speaker is already doing. It comes before the action phrase. Use it when saying that a person or action is included in addition to something already mentioned.
会
会 means “will” in 我也会很快擦一下洗手池, expressing the speaker’s intention to wipe the sink. It comes before the action 擦. Use it before a verb when stating a future plan or intended action.
很快
很快 means “quickly” in 很快擦一下洗手池, describing the speed of the wiping. It comes before the action 擦一下. Use it before an action when saying that it will happen quickly.
擦
擦 means “wipe” in 擦一下洗手池, naming the cleaning action applied to the sink. It is followed by the surface being wiped, 洗手池. Use it with a surface when describing wiping or cleaning it.
一下
一下 in 擦一下 makes the wiping a brief or light action. 一 contributes the idea of one occurrence, and 下 counts an occurrence of an action; together they limit the action to a short bout. Use a verb followed by 一下 when describing a brief action or making the action sound lighter.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “doing this” in 这样可以帮到下一个人, referring back to the action of wiping the sink. It connects that action with its helpful result. Use it to refer to an immediately described action or manner.
帮
帮 means “help” in 帮到下一个人, describing the benefit provided to the next person. The person receiving the help appears after it in this expression. Use it when describing assistance given to someone.
到
到 in 帮到下一个人 shows that the help reaches the next person as a result. It follows 帮 and comes before the recipient 下一个人. Use a verb followed by 到 when emphasizing that an action reaches a person or result.
下一个
下一个 means “next” in 下一个人, identifying the person who comes after the current user. It comes before the noun 人. Use it before a noun when referring to the next person or item in a sequence.
人
人 means “person” in 下一个人. Here it refers to the person who will use the shared bathroom after the current speaker. It can follow a describing phrase such as 下一个.
Grammar Points
擦一下
擦一下洗手池周围。
Cā yíxià xǐshǒuchí zhōuwéi.Wipe around the sink briefly.
一下 after a verb makes the action sound brief or casual, rather than emphasizing a long action.
放进 + place
把擦手纸放进垃圾桶。
Bǎ cāshǒuzhǐ fàng jìn lājī tǒng.Put the paper towel into the trash bin.
放进 combines 放 with 进 to show that something is moved into a place.
Chinese Vocabulary
保持
verb
bǎochí
to keep; to maintain
擦手纸
noun
cāshǒuzhǐ
paper towel
放进
verb
fàng jìn
to put into
干净
adj
gānjìng
clean
共用卫生间
noun
gòngyòng wèishēngjiān
shared bathroom
垃圾桶
noun
lājī tǒng
trash bin
旁边
noun
pángbiān
beside; next to
洗手池
noun
xǐshǒuchí
sink
小
adj
xiǎo
small
需要
verb
xūyào
to need
用
verb
yòng
to use
周围
noun
zhōuwéi
around; surrounding area
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
shared bathroom
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共用卫生间clean
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干净paper towel
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擦手纸to need