About This Lesson
Use Identifying a Bag at Lost Property to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我在失物招领处找我的包。
Wǒ zài shīwù zhāolǐng chù zhǎo wǒ de bāo. I'm looking for my bag at lost property.
B
你能描述一下它吗？
Nǐ néng miáoshù yíxià tā ma? Can you describe it for me?
A
它有一条红色的肩带，拉链坏了。
Tā yǒu yì tiáo hóngsè de jiāndài, lāliàn huài le. It has a red strap and a broken zipper.
B
前面有图案吗？
Qiánmiàn yǒu tú'àn ma? Is there any pattern on the front?
A
有一个小花图案。
Yǒu yí ge xiǎo huā tú'àn. There's a small flower pattern.
B
这可能是你的包。
Zhè kěnéng shì nǐ de bāo. This might be yours.
A
那肯定是我的包。
Nà kěndìng shì wǒ de bāo. That's definitely my bag.
B
拿走它之前，请在这张表上签字。
Názǒu tā zhīqián, qǐng zài zhè zhāng biǎo shàng qiānzì. Please sign this form before you take it.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the speaker in “我在失物招领处找我的包”. It appears before the action in 我在失物招领处找我的包. Use 我 when identifying yourself as the person doing something.
在
在 means “at” or “in” here, showing the location in “在失物招领处”. It comes before the place name in 我在失物招领处找我的包. Use 在 + place before describing an action carried out there.
失物招领处
失物招领处 means “lost property office” as a whole in “我在失物招领处找我的包”. 失物 refers to lost property, 招领 refers to arranging for its owner to claim it, and 处 marks a place or office. Use this expression when speaking to staff or describing where you are looking for a lost item.
找
找 means “look for” here, with 我的包 as the object in “找我的包”. The pattern is 找 + the thing you are trying to locate. Use it at a lost property desk when explaining what item you need to find.
的
的 links 我 and 包 in “我的包”, making the meaning “my bag”. It appears between the person who possesses something and the noun in 我的包. Use person or pronoun + 的 + noun to show possession.
包
包 means “bag” here, the item being searched for in “我的包”. It follows the possessive phrase 我的 in 我的包. Use 包 when identifying or describing a bag at a lost property office.
你
你 means “you” here, referring to the person being asked in “你能描述一下它吗？”. It comes before 能 and the action in 你能描述一下它吗？. Use 你 when addressing one person directly, such as a staff member or visitor.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” here, asking whether someone is able to describe the bag in “你能描述一下它吗？”. It comes before the action 描述. Use 你能 + verb to ask someone if they can do something.
描述
描述 means “describe” here, referring to giving identifying details about the bag in “描述一下它”. It is followed by the object 它 in 描述一下它. Use 描述 + an object when explaining what something looks like or what features it has.
一下
一下 softens the request and makes 描述一下它 sound like a brief or manageable description. It comes after the verb in 描述一下它. Use verb + 一下 when making a request sound less abrupt.
它
它 means “it” here and refers to the bag in “描述一下它”. It is the object after 描述 in 描述一下它. Use 它 to refer back to a non-human thing that has already been mentioned.
吗
吗 is a question particle at the end of “你能描述一下它吗？”. It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question. Use 吗 at the end when asking whether something is true or possible.
有
有 means “have” in “它有一条红色的肩带” and presents something as existing in “前面有图案吗？”. With a subject, it can show what something has; with a location, it can show what is there. Use subject or location + 有 + item when describing belongings or features.
条
条 is the classifier used for the strap in “一条红色的肩带”. It comes between 一 and 肩带 in 一条红色的肩带. Use a number + 条 + noun when counting this kind of strap or similarly elongated item.
红色
红色 means “red” here and describes the shoulder strap in “红色的肩带”. It comes before 的肩带 in 红色的肩带. Use a color + 的 + noun when identifying an object by its color.
肩带
肩带 means “shoulder strap” here, one of the bag’s identifying features in “一条红色的肩带”. It follows the classifier 条 and the description 红色的. Use 肩带 when describing the strap used to carry a bag over the shoulder.
拉链
拉链 means “zipper” here, referring to the bag’s zipper in “拉链坏了”. It is the thing whose condition is described by 坏了. Use 拉链 when reporting a problem with a bag or piece of clothing.
坏
坏 means “broken” or “not working” here in “拉链坏了”. It describes the zipper’s condition, while 了 shows that the condition has changed or now holds. Use an item + 坏了 to say that the item is broken.
了
了 marks a change of state in “拉链坏了”, indicating that the zipper has become broken or is now in that condition. It follows 坏 at the end of the phrase. Use an adjective or verb + 了 when reporting a newly changed situation.
前面
前面 means “the front” here, referring to the front part of the bag in “前面有图案吗？”. It appears before 有 to set the location being checked. Use a place or surface + 有 + item when asking what is located there.
图案
图案 means “pattern” or “design” here, referring to the marking on the front of the bag in “前面有图案吗？”. It is further identified as 一个小花图案. Use 图案 when describing a visible design that helps identify an object.
个
个 is the general classifier in “一个小花图案”. It comes between 一 and 小花图案. Use a number + 个 + noun when 个 is the appropriate general classifier for the item being counted.
小
小 means “small” here and describes the flower pattern in “一个小花图案”. It comes before 花图案 in 小花图案. Use an adjective before a noun to give a size detail when identifying an object.
花
花 means “flower” here and forms the description 小花图案, meaning a small flower pattern. It identifies the motif rather than the whole bag. Use 花 in a description when a flower is part of an object’s visible design.
这
这 means “this” here and points to the bag being considered in “这可能是你的包”. It comes before 可能 and the identification 是你的包. Use 这 + noun or 这 + 是 + noun when pointing out or identifying something nearby.
可能
可能 means “might” or “possibly” here, showing that the speaker is not yet certain in “这可能是你的包”. It comes before 是 in 这可能是你的包. Use 可能 + 是 or another verb when making a tentative identification.
是
是 means “be” or “is” here, linking the suspected item with its identity in “这可能是你的包”. The pattern is 这可能是你的包, with the item followed by what it may be. Use X 是 Y when identifying or equating two things.
那
那 means “that” here and points to the bag being identified in “那肯定是我的包”. It comes before 肯定 and the identification 是我的包. Use 那 when referring to something at a distance or something just indicated by another person.
肯定
肯定 means “definitely” or “surely” here, expressing strong certainty in “那肯定是我的包”. It comes before 是 in 那肯定是我的包. Use 肯定 + 是 or another verb when confidently confirming an identification.
拿走
拿走 means “take away” here, referring to taking the bag from the desk in “拿走它之前”. It is followed by the object 它 in 拿走它之前. Use 拿走 + object when removing or taking something away from its current place.
之前
之前 means “before” here and places the action of signing before “拿走它” in “拿走它之前”. It follows the action phrase it refers to. Use a verb phrase + 之前 when describing what must happen before an action.
请
请 means “please” here and introduces the polite instruction in “请在这张表上签字”. It comes before the requested action 签字. Use 请 + verb when giving a polite request or instruction.
张
张 is the classifier for the paper form in “这张表”. It comes between 这 and 表 in 这张表. Use 这张 or number + 张 with a flat paper item such as a form.
表
表 means “form” here, referring to the document in “这张表”. It follows the classifier 张 and is the document on which the person must sign. Use 表 when referring to a form that someone needs to complete or sign.
上
上 means “on” here, showing the surface of the form in “这张表上”. It follows the noun 表 and comes before 签字. Use noun + 上 + action when an action takes place on a surface or document.
签字
签字 means “sign” here, specifically sign one’s name on the form in “在这张表上签字”. It follows the location phrase 在这张表上. Use 在 + document + 上 + 签字 when telling someone where to sign.
Grammar Points
可能 / 肯定 + 动词
可能拿走你的包
kěnéng názǒu nǐ de bāomight take your bag away
表示可能性或确定性时，可能、肯定通常放在动词前。
你的 / 我的 + 名词
你的红色包
nǐ de hóngsè bāoyour red bag
中文所有格放在名词前，常用“你的、我的”等形式表示所属关系。
Chinese Vocabulary
包
noun
bāo
bag
我在失物招领处找我的包。
红色
adj
hóngsè
red
它有一条红色的肩带,拉链坏了。
花
noun
huā
flower
有一个小花图案。
坏
adj
huài
broken
它有一条红色的肩带,拉链坏了。
肩带
noun
jiāndài
strap
它有一条红色的肩带,拉链坏了。
拉链
noun
lāliàn
zipper
它有一条红色的肩带,拉链坏了。
描述
verb
miáoshù
describe
你能描述一下它吗?
前面
noun
qiánmiàn
front
前面有图案吗?
失物招领处
noun
shīwù zhāolǐng chù
lost property office
我在失物招领处找我的包。
图案
noun
tú'àn
pattern
前面有图案吗?
小
adj
xiǎo
small
有一个小花图案。
找
verb
zhǎo
look for
我在失物招领处找我的包。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
lost property office
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失物招领处front
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前面strap
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肩带describe