Organizing a Suitcase Before a Trip | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: Before a trip, two adults organize a suitcase by folding shirts, separating liquids, and moving heavy books..

EN → ZH / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Organizing a Suitcase Before a Trip to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我的行李箱很乱,我们明天出发。

wǒ de xínglǐxiāng hěn luàn, wǒmen míngtiān chūfā. My suitcase is messy, and we leave tomorrow.
B

先把衬衫叠好,这样可以节省空间。

xiān bǎ chènshān dié hǎo, zhèyàng kěyǐ jiéshěng kōngjiān. Fold the shirts first to save space.
A

我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?

wǒ yīnggāi bǎ yètǐ hé yīfu fēnkāi ma? Should I separate liquids from clothes?
B

把液体装进塑料袋,再把它们放进行李箱。

bǎ yètǐ zhuāngjìn sùliàodài, zài bǎ tāmen fàngjìn xínglǐxiāng. Put liquids in a plastic bag before you pack them.
A

这个行李箱好像快达到重量限制了。

zhège xínglǐxiāng hǎoxiàng kuài dádào zhòngliàng xiànzhì le. The suitcase feels close to the weight limit.
B

那就把重的书放到你的背包里。

nà jiù bǎ zhòng de shū fàng dào nǐ de bèibāo lǐ. Then move heavy books to your backpack.
A

这样行李箱就更容易关上了。

zhèyàng xínglǐxiāng jiù gèng róngyì guānshàng le. That makes the suitcase easier to close.
B

现在行李箱应该已经准备好了。

xiànzài xínglǐxiāng yīnggāi yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo le. It should be ready for the trip now.

Word by Word

“我” means “I” or “me” here and refers to the speaker. In “我的行李箱”, it identifies whose suitcase is being discussed. Use “我” when talking about yourself in everyday conversation, such as in a new example: “我是学生”。
In “我的行李箱”, “的” links “我” with “行李箱” to show possession, meaning “my suitcase”. It can also link a description to a noun, as in the dialogue form “重的书”. Use the pattern “我的 + noun” when identifying something that belongs to you.
行李箱 “行李箱” means “suitcase”, the container being organized before the trip. In “我的行李箱很乱”, it is the topic whose condition is described. Use “行李箱” when discussing packing, carrying, or opening travel luggage.
“很” appears in “很乱” before the description of the suitcase and makes the adjective phrase a natural predicate; it can mean “quite” or “very” depending on context. The reusable pattern is “很 + description”, as in the dialogue form “很乱”. Use it when describing how something or someone is.
“乱” means “messy” here and describes the condition of the suitcase in “行李箱很乱”. It follows “很” to form a description of the suitcase. Use “乱” for an untidy room, desk, bag, or other arrangement when the context makes the object clear.
我们 “我们” means “we” or “us” and includes the speaker and at least one other person. In “我们明天出发”, it is the subject of the planned departure. Use “我们” when making a shared plan or describing an action done by a group including yourself.
明天 “明天” means “tomorrow” and places “出发” on the day after today. It appears before the action in “我们明天出发”. Use the pattern “subject + 明天 + action” when talking about tomorrow’s plans.
出发 “出发” means “to leave” or “to depart”, especially when beginning a journey. In “我们明天出发”, it describes the group leaving tomorrow. Use “出发” for starting a trip or setting off from a place.
“先” means “first” and tells the listener that folding the shirts should happen before the other packing actions. In “先把衬衫叠好”, it comes before the action phrase. Use “先 + action” when giving the first step in a sequence.
“把” marks “衬衫” as the object being directly handled in “把衬衫叠好”. The pattern “把 + object + action” is useful when focusing on what is moved, changed, or arranged. Use it for a concrete task such as organizing or putting something somewhere.
衬衫 “衬衫” means “shirt” and is the clothing item to be folded in “把衬衫叠好”. It is the object immediately after “把”. Use “衬衫” when talking about packing, wearing, folding, or washing shirts.
叠好 “叠好” means “fold neatly” or “fold into a ready state”; “好” shows that the folding is completed satisfactorily. In “把衬衫叠好”, the shirts are folded as part of packing. Use the pattern “把 + object + 叠好” when telling someone to fold an item neatly.
这样 “这样” means “in this way” or “like this” and refers to folding the shirts first. In “这样可以节省空间”, it introduces the result of that method. Use “这样 + result” when explaining what happens because something is done in a particular way.
可以 “可以” means “can” or “be possible” in “这样可以节省空间”. It says that this method makes saving space possible. Use “可以 + action” to describe a possible or useful action, such as the dialogue form “可以节省空间”.
节省 “节省” means “to save” in the sense of using less of a resource. In “节省空间”, the resource being saved is space in the suitcase. Use the pattern “节省 + resource”, such as “节省时间” in a new example.
空间 “空间” means “space”, specifically the room available inside the suitcase in “节省空间”. It follows “节省” as the resource that is being saved. Use “空间” when discussing room for clothes, objects, movement, or storage.
应该 “应该” means “should” or “be supposed to” in “我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?”. It asks whether separating the liquids from the clothes is the appropriate action. Use “应该 + action + 吗” when asking for advice about what one ought to do.
液体 “液体” means “liquids” and refers to the liquid items being packed. In “把液体装进塑料袋”, it is the object placed into the bag. Use “液体” when discussing packing, carrying, separating, or storing liquids.
“和” links “液体” and “衣服” in “把液体和衣服分开”, meaning “liquids and clothes”. It joins the two things involved in the separation. Use “A 和 B” to connect two people or things in a list or shared action.
衣服 “衣服” means “clothes” and is the other group kept apart from the liquids in “液体和衣服”. It appears after “和” as the second item in the comparison. Use “衣服” when talking generally about clothing rather than one specific garment.
分开 “分开” means “separate” or “keep apart” in “把液体和衣服分开”. It describes arranging the two groups so they are not together. Use “把 + A 和 B + 分开” when telling someone to keep two things apart.
“吗” is the question particle at the end of “我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?”. It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question. Use “吗” at the end of a question when asking whether an action or situation is correct.
装进 “装进” means “put or load into” and emphasizes placing something inside a container. In “把液体装进塑料袋”, the liquids are placed inside the plastic bag. Use “把 + object + 装进 + container” when packing items into a bag, box, or other container.
塑料袋 “塑料袋” means “plastic bag”, the container receiving the liquids in “装进塑料袋”. It follows “装进” as the destination. Use “塑料袋” when discussing carrying, separating, or storing small items.
“再” means “then” or “afterward” in “再把它们放进行李箱”. It shows that putting the liquids into the suitcase happens after putting them in the plastic bag. Use “先……再……” to describe two actions in order.
它们 “它们” means “them” and refers back to the liquids in the dialogue. In “把它们放进行李箱”, it is the object that is put into the suitcase. Use “它们” to refer to multiple things already mentioned without repeating the noun.
放进 “放进” means “put into” and focuses on moving something inside a container. In “把它们放进行李箱”, the liquids are put inside the suitcase. Use “把 + object + 放进 + container” when describing placing an item inside something.
这个 “这个” means “this” and points to the particular suitcase being discussed in “这个行李箱”. It comes before the noun to identify one nearby or currently relevant item. Use “这个 + noun” when selecting or referring to a specific thing.
好像 “好像” means “seems” or “appears to” in “好像快达到重量限制了”. It shows that the speaker is making an impression rather than stating a confirmed measurement. Use “好像 + situation” when something appears to be true based on what you notice.
“快” means “almost” or “soon” in “快达到重量限制了”. It shows that reaching the weight limit is close but has not necessarily happened yet. Use “快 + action or result” when an event is approaching.
达到 “达到” means “reach” or “attain” in “达到重量限制”. It describes arriving at a level or limit. Use “达到 + target or standard” when talking about reaching a weight limit, goal, level, or requirement.
重量 “重量” means “weight” in “重量限制”. It identifies the amount of heaviness that is being considered for the suitcase. Use “重量” when discussing how heavy an object is or how much weight a container can carry.
限制 “限制” means “limit” or “restriction” in “重量限制”. Together, “重量限制” means the permitted weight limit. Use the pattern “noun + 限制” when naming a limit connected with a particular thing or activity.
“了” at the end of “好像快达到重量限制了” indicates that the situation has changed or is now approaching that state. It is part of the speaker’s observation that the suitcase is nearly at the limit. Use sentence-final “了” when announcing a new or changed situation.
“那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那就把重的书放到你的背包里”. It connects the weight problem with the suggested solution. Use “那 + action” when responding to a situation by proposing what to do next.
“就” means “then” or “consequently” in “那就把重的书放到你的背包里”. Together with “那”, it presents the action as the direct result of the previous situation. Use the pattern “那就 + action” when making a decision based on what was just said.
“重” means “heavy” in “重的书” and describes the books that should be moved. The form “重的 + noun” lets the description identify a particular group of objects. Use “重的” before a noun when selecting heavy items.
“书” means “books” and is the object moved to the backpack in “把重的书放到你的背包里”. It follows the description “重的”. Use “书” when talking about reading, carrying, packing, or moving books.
放到 “放到” means “put or move to” and focuses on the destination of the books. In “把重的书放到你的背包里”, the heavy books are moved to the backpack. Use “把 + object + 放到 + destination” when relocating something to a place or surface.
“你” means “you” and refers to the person whose backpack is being used. In “你的背包”, it appears in the possessive phrase “your backpack”. Use “你” when addressing one person directly, and use “你的 + noun” to identify something belonging to that person.
背包 “背包” means “backpack”, the destination for the heavy books in “放到你的背包里”. It is followed by “里” to show that the books go inside it. Use “背包” when discussing carrying personal belongings or packing for a trip.
“里” means “inside” or “in” and marks the interior of the backpack in “你的背包里”. It follows the container noun to identify the location. Use “container + 里” when describing something located or placed inside a container.
“更” means “more” or “even more” in “更容易”. It shows that closing the suitcase becomes easier than before the books were moved. Use “更 + adjective” when comparing a new condition with an earlier one.
容易 “容易” means “easy” in “更容易关上”, describing how easy it is to close the suitcase. It is modified by “更” to mean “easier”. Use “容易 + action” when saying that an action is easy to do.
关上 “关上” means “close” with the result of being shut, and in “关上” it refers to closing the suitcase. It follows “容易” in “更容易关上”. Use “关上” for closing something such as a suitcase, door, or window when the closed result is relevant.
现在 “现在” means “now” and places the suitcase’s current state in the present moment. In “现在行李箱应该已经准备好了”, it introduces the present assessment. Use “现在 + situation” when describing what is true at this time.
已经 “已经” means “already” and indicates that preparation is considered completed by now. In “应该已经准备好了”, it appears before the completed state “准备好”. Use “已经 + action or state” when something has happened or become true before the present point.
准备好 “准备好” means “be ready” or “be prepared”, with “好” showing a completed ready state. In “行李箱应该已经准备好了”, the suitcase is expected to be ready for the trip. Use “object + 准备好” when saying that something has been fully prepared for a purpose.

Grammar Points

动词 + 好

叠好衬衫

dié hǎo chènshān

Fold the shirt neatly.

好 after a verb marks a completed result: the action is done properly or ready.

好像 + 动词短语

好像达到重量限制

hǎoxiàng dádào zhòngliàng xiànzhì

It seems to have reached the weight limit.

好像 comes before a verb phrase to express an appearance or tentative judgment.

Chinese Vocabulary

衬衫 noun
chènshān shirt

先把衬衫叠好。

出发 verb
chūfā to leave; to set off

我们明天出发。

叠好 verb
dié hǎo to fold neatly

先把衬衫叠好。

分开 verb
fēnkāi to separate

我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?

节省 verb
jiéshěng to save

这样可以节省空间。

空间 noun
kōngjiān space

这样可以节省空间。

adj
luàn messy

我的行李箱很乱。

明天 adv
míngtiān tomorrow

我们明天出发。

塑料袋 noun
sùliàodài plastic bag

把液体装进塑料袋。

行李箱 noun
xínglǐxiāng suitcase

我的行李箱很乱。

液体 noun
yètǐ liquid

我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?

衣服 noun
yīfu clothes

我应该把液体和衣服分开吗?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

clothes

Show Answer衣服

space

Show Answer空间

tomorrow

Show Answer明天

to separate

Show Answer分开