Finding blue folders in a shop | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a shop, a customer asks staff where to find blue folders and whether a pack is available..

EN → ZH / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding blue folders in a shop to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

请问，文具区在哪里？

qǐngwèn, wénjù qū zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the stationery section?
B

在右边，过了笔记本展示区。

zài yòubiān, guòle bǐjìběn zhǎnshìqū. It's past the notebook display on the right.
A

我在找蓝色文件夹。

wǒ zài zhǎo lánsè wénjiànjiā. I'm looking for blue folders.
B

让我查一下还有没有货。

ràng wǒ chá yíxià hái yǒu méi yǒu huò. Let me check if they are still available.
A

今天有现货吗？

jīntiān yǒu xiànhuò ma? Are there any in stock today?
B

后面的房间里有一些。

hòumiàn de fángjiān lǐ yǒu yìxiē. We have some in the back room.
A

可以帮我拿一包吗？

kěyǐ bāng wǒ ná yì bāo ma? Could you bring one pack for me?
B

我拿一包过来。

wǒ ná yì bāo guòlái. I'll bring a pack over.
B

请在这个展示区旁边等。

qǐng zài zhège zhǎnshìqū pángbiān děng. Please wait near this display.

Word by Word

请问 “请问” is the polite “excuse me” used to open a question in this dialogue. “请” adds politeness and “问” supplies the act of asking; together they soften a request for information. Use it before asking shop staff or a stranger for information.
文具 “文具” means stationery in “文具区”. It names the category of shop goods and comes before a place word to identify the stationery section. Use it when asking about or locating stationery in a shop.
区 “区” means a section or area in “文具区” and “展示区”. It follows a category or description to name a particular area of a shop. Use it when referring to a department, section, or display area.
在 “在” shows where something is located in “在哪里？” and “在右边”. It is used with a place expression to ask or state a location. Use it when giving directions or saying where a person or item is.
哪里 “哪里” means “where” in “在哪里？”. Together with “在”, it asks for the location of something. Use it in a location question when asking staff where a section or item is.
右边 “右边” means the right side in “在右边”. It gives the direction or position of the stationery section. Use it with a location expression when directing someone to the right.
过 “过” means pass or go beyond in “过了笔记本展示区”. It describes moving past the notebook display, which is used as a landmark. Use it when giving directions that take someone beyond a visible place or object.
了 In “过了笔记本展示区”, “了” shows that passing the display has been completed, so the location is beyond it. Here it marks the completed passing point rather than adding a separate object meaning. Use it after an action when describing a completed change or movement.
笔记本 “笔记本” means notebook in “笔记本展示区”. It identifies the type of product shown in that display area. Use it when talking about notebooks or specifying a notebook-related shop section.
展示区 “展示区” means display area in “笔记本展示区” and “这个展示区”. It names an area where products are displayed. Use it after a product name or a demonstrative when identifying a shop display area.
我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我在找蓝色文件夹” and “让我查一下”. It identifies the speaker as the person searching or checking. Use it as the person before an action or after a verb that refers to the speaker.
找 “找” means look for in “我在找蓝色文件夹”. It supplies the searching action, while “在” shows that the search is in progress. Use it before the object you are trying to locate, especially when asking for help in a shop.
蓝色 “蓝色” means blue in “蓝色文件夹”. It describes the color of the folders and comes before the product name. Use it before a noun when specifying an item by color.
文件夹 “文件夹” means folder in “蓝色文件夹”. It is the product the customer is trying to find. Use it after a color or other description when identifying folders in a shop.
让 “让” means let or allow in “让我查一下”. It introduces “我” as the person who will do the checking. Use it before a person and an action when offering or allowing that person to act.
查 “查” means check in “让我查一下”. It refers to checking the stock information, not physically searching for the folders yet. Use it for checking availability, information, or details in a service interaction.
一下 “一下” makes “查一下” sound like a brief or limited check. It presents the checking action as something quick and light. Use it after an action verb when offering to do a quick check or making a request sound less heavy.
还 “还” means still in “还有没有货”. It asks whether stock continues to be available now. Use it before an availability expression when checking whether something remains.
有 “有” means have or be available in “还有没有货”. Here it signals that stock exists, and it is paired with “没有” to ask whether any remains. Use it when asking or answering whether a product is available.
没有 In “还有没有货”, “没有” supplies the negative side of the question about whether stock exists. Together with “有”, it asks whether there is still any stock rather than simply stating that something is absent. Use this pairing for availability questions.
货 “货” means goods or stock in “还有没有货”. It is the thing whose availability is being checked. Use it after an availability expression when asking whether goods remain in stock.
今天 “今天” means today in “今天有现货吗？”. It limits the stock question to the current day. Use it as a time expression when asking about availability at a particular time.
现货 “现货” means in stock or available for immediate purchase in “今天有现货吗？”. It identifies stock that is currently available, not merely an item that could be ordered. Use it after an availability expression when checking current shop stock.
吗 “吗” marks “今天有现货吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It appears at the end of the question. Use it at the end of a statement when asking for a simple confirmation.
后面 “后面” means the back or the area behind something in “后面的房间”. It describes the room’s location relative to the shop. Use it before “的” and a noun when identifying something located at the back.
的 In “后面的房间”, “的” links the location description “后面” to the noun “房间”. The whole phrase means the room at the back. Use it between a description and the noun that it identifies.
房间 “房间” means room in “后面的房间里”. It names the place where the stock is kept. Use it after a location description and with an inside-location expression when referring to a room.
里 “里” means inside or in in “房间里”. It shows that the items are located inside the room. Use it after the name of an enclosed place to say that something is inside it.
一些 “一些” means some in “有一些”. It gives an indefinite quantity of folders without specifying an exact number. Use it after an availability expression when saying that some items are present.
可以 “可以” means can or may in “可以帮我拿一包吗？”. It asks whether the staff member is able or willing to provide the requested help. Use it before an action phrase when making a polite request.
帮 “帮” means help in “帮我拿一包”. It shows that the action of bringing the pack is done for “我”. Use it before a person and an action when asking someone to help with that action.
拿 “拿” means take or bring in “拿一包” and “拿一包过来”. In this shop context, it refers to retrieving a pack and bringing it to the customer. Use it with the item being handled, and add a directional expression when the movement toward the speaker matters.
一 “一” means one in “一包”. It gives the quantity requested and comes before “包”. Use it before a quantity word or classifier when asking for one unit of an item.
包 “包” identifies a pack in “一包”. It specifies the packaged quantity of folders the customer wants. Use it after a number when referring to packaged goods.
过来 “过来” shows movement toward the speaker or the speaker’s current location in “拿一包过来”. It adds the direction of bringing the pack over. Use it after an action when asking or saying that something will come toward where the speaker is.
请 “请” means please in “请在这个展示区旁边等”. Here it introduces a polite instruction to wait; in “请问”, it is part of a polite question opener. Use it at the beginning of a polite request or instruction.
这个 “这个” means this in “这个展示区”. It points to a specific display area near the speakers. Use it before a noun when identifying a particular nearby person, thing, or place.
旁边 “旁边” means beside or next to in “展示区旁边”. It identifies the position adjacent to the display area. Use it after a place or object when specifying that something is next to it.
等 “等” means wait in “请在这个展示区旁边等”. It names the action the customer is politely asked to do at the specified location. Use it after a polite instruction when telling someone to remain and wait.

Grammar Points

让我 + 动词

让我查一下还有没有货。

ràng wǒ chá yíxià hái yǒu méi yǒu huò

Let me check whether there is still stock.

“让我”后接动词，表示请求允许自己做某事；“一下”使语气更自然、委婉。

帮我 + 动词 + 过来

帮我拿一包过来。

bāng wǒ ná yì bāo guòlái

Please bring me one pack.

“帮我”后接动作；“过来”表示动作朝说话人的位置移动。

Chinese Vocabulary

笔记本 noun
bǐjìběn notebook

笔记本展示区

过了 prep
guòle past; after passing

过了笔记本展示区

蓝色 adj
lánsè blue

蓝色文件夹

请问 phrase
qǐngwèn excuse me; may I ask

请问,文具区在哪里?

区 noun
qū section; area

文具区

让我 phrase
ràng wǒ let me

让我查一下

文件夹 noun
wénjiànjiā folder

蓝色文件夹

文具 noun
wénjù stationery

文具区

右边 noun
yòubiān right side

在右边

在哪里 phrase
zài nǎlǐ where; where is it

文具区在哪里?

展示区 noun
zhǎnshìqū display area

笔记本展示区

找 verb
zhǎo look for; find

我在找蓝色文件夹。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

where; where is it

Show Answer在哪里

right side

Show Answer右边

past; after passing

Show Answer过了

display area

Show Answer展示区