Saving Leftovers for Tomorrow | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Saving Leftovers for Tomorrow to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

晚餐剩下了很多菜。

wǎncān shèngxià le hěnduō cài There are a lot of leftovers from dinner.

我们把它们放进一个干净的盒子里吧。

wǒmen bǎ tāmen fàngjìn yí ge gānjìng de hézi lǐ ba Let's put them in a clean container.

我可以明天午餐时加热它们吗？

wǒ kěyǐ míngtiān wǔcān shí jiārè tāmen ma Can I reheat them for lunch tomorrow?

可以，只要我们把它们放在冰箱里保存到明天。

kěyǐ, zhǐyào wǒmen bǎ tāmen fàng zài bīngxiāng lǐ bǎocún dào míngtiān You can if we keep them in the fridge until then.

我应该在盒子上贴一个标签吗？

wǒ yīnggāi zài hézi shàng tiē yí ge biāoqiān ma Should I put a label on the container?

这样，明天我们就知道里面是什么了。

zhèyàng, míngtiān wǒmen jiù zhīdào lǐmiàn shì shénme le That way, tomorrow we will know what is inside.

我会在上面贴一个清楚的标签。

wǒ huì zài shàngmiàn tiē yí ge qīngchu de biāoqiān I'll put a clear label on it.

这样吃午餐时会更方便。

zhèyàng chī wǔcān shí huì gèng fāngbiàn That will make lunch easier.

Word by Word

晚餐 “晚餐” means dinner in “晚餐剩下了很多菜”. It names the evening meal and can be used when talking about what was eaten or what remains after dinner, such as when discussing food at home.

剩下 “剩下” means be left over in “晚餐剩下了很多菜”. Here it describes food remaining after the meal; it is useful when discussing leftover food or other things that remain after use.

了 In “晚餐剩下了很多菜”, “了” presents the situation as having occurred or having changed, so many dishes are now left over. This form is useful when reporting a newly resulting situation.

很多 “很多” means a lot of or many in “剩下了很多菜”. It comes before the noun it describes, and it is useful when describing a large amount of food or other things.

菜 “菜” means food or dishes in “很多菜”. Here it refers to the dishes left from dinner; it is useful when talking about cooked food, meals, or individual dishes.

我们 “我们” means we or us in “我们把它们放进一个干净的盒子里吧”. It refers to the speaker and the other person together, and it is used when making a shared plan or describing a joint action.

把 “把” marks “它们” as the item being handled in “我们把它们放进一个干净的盒子里吧”. It is used before an object when the sentence focuses on what happens to that object, such as putting, moving, or organizing it.

它们 “它们” means them in “把它们放进一个干净的盒子里”. It refers here to the leftover dishes, and it is useful when referring back to several non-human things already mentioned.

放 “放” means put or place in “把它们放进一个干净的盒子里”. With a place or direction after it, it describes placing something somewhere, as when storing food or objects.

进 “进” contributes the meaning into in “放进一个干净的盒子里”. Together, “放进” describes moving something into a container, and this pattern is useful for giving a storage or placement instruction.

个 “个” is the general measure word in “一个干净的盒子”. It is used between “一” and the noun “盒子” to count one item, and it is useful with many ordinary objects.

干净 “干净” means clean in “一个干净的盒子”. It describes the condition of the container and can be used when choosing a suitable place to store food or belongings.

的 “的” links the description “干净” to the noun “盒子” in “干净的盒子”. This pattern lets a description come before a noun, which is useful when identifying a particular object.

盒子 “盒子” means box or container in “一个干净的盒子里”. Here it is the container for the leftovers, and it is useful when talking about storing or putting things in a box.

里 “里” means inside or in after “盒子” in “盒子里”. It identifies the interior location, and it is useful for saying where something is kept or placed.

吧 “吧” makes “我们把它们放进一个干净的盒子里吧” a suggestion. It is useful when proposing an action to another person in a cooperative, everyday situation.

我 “我” means I or me in “我可以明天午餐时加热它们吗”. It identifies the speaker as the person asking about the action, and it is used when stating one’s own plans, abilities, or requests.

可以 “可以” means can or may in “我可以明天午餐时加热它们吗”. In this question it asks for permission to do something, and it is useful when requesting permission for an action.

明天 “明天” means tomorrow in “明天午餐时”. It places the action on the day after today and is useful when arranging or discussing a future meal or plan.

午餐 “午餐” means lunch in “明天午餐时”. It names the midday meal and is useful when talking about when food will be eaten.

时 “时” means at the time of or when in “明天午餐时”. It follows a time expression and identifies when the action will happen, such as during a meal or another scheduled time.

加热 “加热” means heat up or reheat in “加热它们”. Here it refers to heating the leftover dishes before eating them, and it is useful when discussing preparing stored food for a later meal.

吗 “吗” turns “我可以明天午餐时加热它们吗” into a yes-or-no question. It is useful at the end of a sentence when asking whether something is allowed or possible.

只要 “只要” means as long as or provided that in “只要我们把它们放在冰箱里保存到明天”. It introduces the condition for the permission given, and it is useful when stating one condition that must be met.

在 “在” marks the location in “在冰箱里保存到明天”. It places the leftovers in the refrigerator while they are being kept, and it is useful before a place when describing where something is located or stored.

冰箱 “冰箱” means refrigerator or fridge in “冰箱里”. It names the place where the leftovers are stored, and it is useful in conversations about keeping food cold at home.

保存 “保存” means keep or preserve in “把它们放在冰箱里保存到明天”. Here it describes keeping the leftovers until a later time, and it is useful when discussing storing food or preserving something for future use.

到 “到” marks the endpoint in “保存到明天”, meaning keep them until tomorrow. It is useful after an action to show how far in time or space that action continues.

应该 “应该” means should in “我应该在盒子上贴一个标签吗”. The speaker uses it to ask whether labeling is the appropriate action, and it is useful when asking for advice or checking what is advisable.

上 “上” marks the surface in “盒子上贴一个标签”, meaning put a label on the box. It is useful after an object when describing something attached to or placed on its surface.

贴 “贴” means stick or attach in “贴一个标签”. Here it describes attaching a label to the container, and it is useful when putting a sticker, note, or label onto a surface.

标签 “标签” means label in “贴一个标签”. Here it is the identifying note placed on the container, and it is useful when marking a box so people can identify its contents.

这样 “这样” means this way or like this in “这样，明天我们就知道里面是什么了”. It refers to the labeling action just discussed and introduces its practical result, which is useful when explaining how an action helps.

就 “就” links the method with its result in “明天我们就知道里面是什么了”, giving the sense that then or as a result we will know. It is useful when showing what follows from a condition or action.

知道 “知道” means know in “明天我们就知道里面是什么了”. Here it means knowing what the container holds, and it is useful when talking about having information about something.

里面 “里面” means inside in “里面是什么”. It refers to the interior of the container and is useful when asking or explaining what is contained inside something.

是 “是” means be in “里面是什么”, which asks what the thing inside is. It connects the question word with the thing being identified and is useful when identifying a person, object, or content.

什么 “什么” means what in “里面是什么”. It asks for the identity or content of the object inside, and it is useful when the speaker does not know which thing is being discussed.

会 “会” expresses a predicted or expected result in “这样吃午餐时会更方便”. It presents lunch as becoming more convenient because of the label, and it is useful when describing what is likely to happen.

上面 “上面” means on top or on it in “我会在上面贴一个清楚的标签”. Here it refers to the top or surface of the container, and it is useful when describing where something will be placed on an object.

清楚 “清楚” means clear in “一个清楚的标签”. It describes a label whose information can be understood easily, and it is useful when discussing clear writing, instructions, or identifying information.

吃 “吃” means eat or have in “吃午餐时”. It describes the action taking place during lunch, and it is useful when talking about eating a meal or food.

更 “更” means more or even more in “会更方便”. It shows that the situation will be more convenient than before or than without the label, and it is useful when comparing a degree of convenience or another quality.

方便 “方便” means convenient or easier in “吃午餐时会更方便”. Here it describes lunch being easier to manage because the contents are clearly labeled, and it is useful when talking about an arrangement that saves effort or makes an action easier.

Grammar Points

放进 + 处所

放进盒子里面

fàngjìn hézi lǐmiàn

put it inside the box

放进表示把东西移入某个地方，后面接处所，如盒子里面。

Chinese Vocabulary

保存 verb

bǎocún to keep; to store

标签 noun

biāoqiān label

冰箱 noun

bīngxiāng fridge; refrigerator

菜 noun

cài dish; food

放进 verb

fàngjìn to put into

干净 adj

gānjìng clean

盒子 noun

hézi container; box

加热 verb

jiārè to reheat; to heat up

剩下 verb

shèngxià to be left; to remain

晚餐 noun

wǎncān dinner

午餐 noun

wǔcān lunch

只要 conj

zhǐyào as long as

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

as long as

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只要

clean

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干净

dinner

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晚餐

container; box

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盒子