Reserve a Quiet Study Room | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Reserve a Quiet Study Room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我想预订一间自习室。

Wǒ xiǎng yùdìng yì jiān zìxíshì. I would like to reserve a study room.

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

Wǒ xiān kànkan jīntiān nǎxiē fángjiān kāifàng. Let me check which rooms are open today.

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

Wǒ xūyào yí ge ānjìng de dìfang hé tóngxué yìqǐ xuéxí. I need a quiet place to study with a classmate.

今天下午有一间小房间空着。

Jīntiān xiàwǔ yǒu yì jiān xiǎo fángjiān kòngzhe. A small room is free this afternoon.

我可以在服务台预订吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ zài fúwùtái yùdìng ma? Can I book it at the service desk?

请在这里填写申请表。

Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tiánxiě shēnqǐngbiǎo. Please fill in the request form here.

我要把钥匙还到这个服务台吗？

Wǒ yào bǎ yàoshi huán dào zhège fúwùtái ma? Do I return the key to this service desk?

请在闭馆前把钥匙还回来。

Qǐng zài bìguǎn qián bǎ yàoshi huán huílái. Bring it back before closing.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me”; here it is the person who wants to reserve a study room. It commonly appears before a verb, as in “我需要一个安静的地方”. Use it when talking about yourself in everyday situations.

想 “想” means “want to” or “would like to” here, expressing a wish to reserve a room. It comes before the action, as in “我想预订”. A new example is “我想喝水”, used to say “I would like to drink water.”

预订 “预订” means “reserve” or “book” in “我想预订一间自习室”. It is used before the thing being reserved, such as “预订一间自习室”. Use it when arranging a room, seat, or service in advance.

一 “一” means “one” and indicates one room in “一间自习室”. It appears before the measure word “间”, not directly before the room noun. Use “一” when specifying a quantity of one.

间 “间” is the measure word used for rooms in “一间自习室”. The pattern is “一间” plus the room noun. Use it when counting rooms or similar separate indoor spaces.

自习室 “自习室” means “study room”, the room the speaker wants to reserve. In “一间自习室”, it follows the measure word “间”. Use it when referring to a room intended for individual or quiet study.

先 “先” means “first” in “我先看看”, showing that checking happens before the next step. It commonly comes before the verb, as in “先填写申请表”. Use it when explaining the order of actions.

看看 “看看” means “take a look” or “check” here. The repeated form makes the action sound brief or casual, and it follows “先” in “我先看看”. Use it before something being checked, such as “看看哪些房间开放”.

今天 “今天” means “today” and sets the time for which rooms are being checked in “今天哪些房间开放”. It commonly comes before the rest of the time-related statement. Use it when talking about the current day.

哪些 “哪些” means “which ones” and asks which rooms are open in “哪些房间开放”. It comes before the noun being selected, as in “哪些房间”. Use it when choosing more than one possible item from a group.

房间 “房间” means “room” in “哪些房间开放”. It follows “哪些” when asking which rooms are available. Use it for an indoor room, including a library room.

开放 “开放” means “open” or “available for use” here, describing which rooms can be used today. It follows the subject in “哪些房间开放”. Use it for a place or facility that is open to people.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我需要一个安静的地方”. It comes before the thing that is needed, such as “一个安静的地方”. Use it to state a practical requirement or necessity.

个 “个” is a general measure word in “一个安静的地方”. It comes after “一” and before the noun phrase. Use “个” when a more specific measure word is not needed or is not being used.

安静 “安静” means “quiet” in “一个安静的地方”, describing the place the speaker needs. With “的”, it comes before the noun “地方”. Use it when describing a place with little noise or disturbance.

的 “的” links the description “安静” to the noun “地方” in “安静的地方”. The pattern is a description plus “的” plus a noun. Use it to describe a person, thing, or place.

地方 “地方” means “place” in “一个安静的地方”. It is the object of “需要” and is described by “安静的”. Use it when referring generally to a location.

和 “和” means “with” in “和同学一起学习”, connecting the speaker’s study partner with the action. It comes before the person who joins the activity. Use it to connect people or things, or to say that an activity is done with someone.

同学 “同学” means “classmate” in “和同学一起学习”. It follows “和” as the person studying together with the speaker. Use it when referring to someone who studies in the same class or school context.

一起 “一起” means “together” in “和同学一起学习”. It comes before the verb “学习” and shows that the people do the action jointly. Use it before an action when emphasizing that people do it together.

学习 “学习” means “study” or “learn” here, in the activity “和同学一起学习”. It follows “一起” in this sentence. Use it for studying a subject or learning something.

下午 “下午” means “afternoon” in “今天下午有一间小房间空着”. It combines with “今天” to specify the time of the room’s availability. Use it for a time after noon and before evening.

有 “有” means “there is” here, introducing an available room in “有一间小房间空着”. It commonly comes before the thing that exists or is available. Use it to say that something is present, exists, or can be found.

小 “小” means “small” in “一间小房间”, describing the room’s size. It comes directly before the noun “房间”. Use it before a noun to describe something as small.

空 “空” means “free” or “vacant” in “一间小房间空着”, meaning that the room is not occupied. It is followed by “着” to describe the continuing vacant state. Use it for a seat, room, or other space that is available.

着 “着” indicates that the state described by “空” continues in “空着”. Here, the room remains vacant or available. It commonly follows a verb or adjective to show a continuing state, as in the dialogue form “空着”.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “我可以在服务台预订吗？”, asking whether booking at the desk is allowed. It comes before the action, as in “可以预订”. Use it to ask about permission or possibility.

在 “在” means “at” in “在服务台”, marking the place where the booking takes place. It comes before the location and before the verb phrase in this question. Use it to identify where an action happens.

服务台 “服务台” means “service desk” in “在服务台预订”. It follows “在” to identify the place for booking. Use it when referring to a desk where staff provide assistance or handle requests.

吗 “吗” is a question particle at the end of “我可以在服务台预订吗？”. It turns the statement into a yes-or-no question. Use it at the end of a question when asking whether something is possible or allowed.

请 “请” means “please” in “请在这里填写申请表”, making the instruction polite. It comes before the requested action, “填写”. Use it when politely asking someone to do something.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “在这里填写申请表”, identifying the place where the form should be completed. It follows “在” in this expression. Use it to point out the place where an action should happen.

填写 “填写” means “fill in” or “complete” here, referring to entering information on the application form. It comes before the object “申请表”. Use it with a form, document, or other item that requires written information.

申请表 “申请表” means “application form” or “request form” in “填写申请表”. It is the object of “填写”. Use it when referring to a form used to request or apply for something.

要 “要” means “need to” or “be expected to” in “我要把钥匙还到这个服务台吗？”. It appears before the action and asks whether returning the key is required. Use it before a verb when asking or stating that an action is necessary.

把 “把” marks “钥匙” as the object being handled in “把钥匙还到这个服务台”. It places the object before the action and its destination. Use the pattern “把” plus an object plus a verb phrase when describing what is done to a specific object.

钥匙 “钥匙” means “key” in “把钥匙还到这个服务台”. It is the object marked by “把”. Use it when referring to the key that opens or locks a door.

还 “还” means “return” in “把钥匙还到这个服务台”. Here it describes giving the key back, not the meaning “still” or “also”. Use it before a destination or recipient when returning an item.

到 “到” marks the destination in “还到这个服务台”, showing where the key should be returned. It comes before the destination “这个服务台”. Use it to indicate movement or transfer to a place.

这 “这” means “this” in “这个服务台”, pointing to the specific service desk nearby or already identified. It comes before the measure word “个” and noun. Use it to identify one particular thing or place.

回来 “回来” means “come back” or “bring back” here in “把钥匙还回来”, emphasizing that the key is returned to the library. It follows “还” and completes the return action. Use it when something or someone returns to the relevant place.

闭馆 “闭馆” means “the library closes” in “闭馆前”, referring to the time when the library stops operating. It comes before “前” to form a time expression. Use it when talking about a library or other public facility closing.

前 “前” means “before” in “闭馆前”, meaning that the key must be returned before the library closes. It follows a time or event, forming the pattern “[time or event]前”. Use this pattern to set a deadline before an event.

Grammar Points

先 + 动词重叠

先看看哪些房间开放。

Xiān kànkan nǎxiē fángjiān kāifàng.

First, let's check which rooms are open.

“先”放在动词前表示先做某事；“看看”是动词重叠，表示短暂或尝试做某事。

时间短语 + 动作

闭馆前还回来。

Bìguǎn qián huán huílái.

Return it before closing.

“闭馆前”放在动作前，表示动作发生的截止时间。

Chinese Vocabulary

安静 adj

ānjìng quiet

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

地方 noun

dìfang place

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

房间 noun

fángjiān room

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

开放 adj

kāifàng to be open; to open

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

看看 verb

kànkan to take a look; to check

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

哪些 det

nǎxiē which; what ...

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

同学 noun

tóngxué classmate

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

先 adv

xiān first

我先看看今天哪些房间开放。

需要 verb

xūyào to need

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

一起 adv

yìqǐ together

我需要一个安静的地方和同学一起学习。

预订 verb

yùdìng to reserve; to book

我想预订一间自习室。

自习室 noun

zìxíshì study room

我想预订一间自习室。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

study room

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自习室

classmate

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同学

to reserve; to book

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预订

room

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房间