Using the Library Printer | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Using the Library Printer to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我怎么使用图书馆的打印机？

Wǒ zěnme shǐyòng túshūguǎn de dǎyìnjī? How do I use the printer in the library?

先在这个屏幕上选择打印机。

Xiān zài zhè ge píngmù shàng xuǎnzé dǎyìnjī. First, choose the printer on this screen.

我可以选择双面打印吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ xuǎnzé shuāngmiàn dǎyìn ma? Can I choose double-sided printing?

打印前更改设置。

Dǎyìn qián gēnggǎi shèzhì. Change the setting before you print.

我只需要打印一份简短的文件。

Wǒ zhǐ xūyào dǎyìn yí fèn jiǎnduǎn de wénjiàn. I only need to print a short document.

那就在开始前查看预览。

Nà jiù zài kāishǐ qián chákàn yùlǎn. Then check the preview before you start.

打印好的纸张从哪里出来？

Dǎyìn hǎo de zhǐzhāng cóng nǎlǐ chūlái? Where do the printed pages come out?

它们会从下面的纸盒出来。

Tāmen huì cóng xiàmiàn de zhǐhé chūlái. They come out in the tray below.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker asking how to use the printer, meaning “I” or “me” here. It appears at the beginning of “我怎么使用图书馆的打印机？”. Use “我” when talking about yourself in a question, statement, or request.

怎么 “怎么” asks how something is done or by what method. In “我怎么使用图书馆的打印机？”, it asks for instructions for using the printer. A common reuse pattern is “怎么 + action” when asking how to do something.

使用 “使用” means to use or operate something; here it refers to operating the printer. It follows “怎么” in “我怎么使用图书馆的打印机？”. Use it before an object when asking about or describing how to operate equipment.

图书馆 “图书馆” means library and identifies the place connected with the printer in “图书馆的打印机”. It is used before “的” to describe which printer is meant. You can use “图书馆” when asking about services or objects at a library.

的 In “图书馆的打印机”, “的” links “图书馆” with “打印机” and shows their relationship: the printer belonging to or associated with the library. It commonly follows a describing word or phrase and comes before the noun it describes. Use the same linking role when identifying an object by its place or owner.

打印机 “打印机” means printer, the machine being used in the dialogue. It appears in “图书馆的打印机” and later in “选择打印机”. Use it as the object after an action such as choosing or using a printer.

先 “先” means first and marks the first step in the instructions. In “先在这个屏幕上选择打印机。”, choosing the printer is presented as the initial action. Use “先” before an action when giving steps in order.

在 In “先在这个屏幕上选择打印机。”, “在” introduces the location where the action takes place: on this screen. It is followed by the location phrase “这个屏幕上”. Use “在” before a place when saying where an action happens.

这个 “这个” means this and points to the particular screen being referred to. It appears in “这个屏幕” to identify the screen near the speakers. Use it before a noun when indicating one specific item.

屏幕 “屏幕” means screen, specifically the screen on which the printer is selected. In “这个屏幕上”, it is the location of the selection action. Use “屏幕” when referring to a device display.

上 In “这个屏幕上”, “上” indicates the surface or displayed area on the screen, meaning on the screen. It follows “屏幕” in the location phrase. Use it after a surface or place when describing where something appears or happens.

选择 “选择” means choose or select; here it refers to selecting a printer or a printing option. It appears in “选择打印机” and “选择双面打印”. Use it before the item or option that someone chooses.

可以 “可以” asks whether something is allowed or possible in “我可以选择双面打印吗？”. Here the speaker is asking for permission to select double-sided printing. A common reuse pattern is “我可以 + action + 吗？” when asking whether one may do something.

双面 “双面” means double-sided and specifies that both sides are involved in the printing option. In “双面打印”, it describes the type of printing being selected. Use it before “打印” when referring to printing on both sides.

打印 “打印” refers to printing in “双面打印”, and it refers to the action of printing in “打印前” and “打印一份简短的文件”. Its exact meaning here is connected with producing printed pages. Use it before a document when describing what will be printed.

吗 “吗” is placed at the end of “我可以选择双面打印吗？” to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question. It signals that the speaker is asking for confirmation or permission. Use it after a complete question statement when expecting a yes-or-no answer.

前 “前” means before and marks an action or time that comes earlier. In “打印前” and “开始前”, it means before printing and before starting. Use it after an action or event to express “before doing that” or “before that event”.

更改 “更改” means change, specifically change the setting in “打印前更改设置。”. It is followed by the thing being changed, “设置”. Use it before a setting or other item when instructing someone to alter it.

设置 “设置” means a setting or configuration, here referring to the printer option that should be changed. It is the object of “更改” in “更改设置”. Use it when discussing selectable options on a device.

只 “只” means only and limits what the speaker needs to print in “我只需要打印一份简短的文件。”. It shows that the requirement is restricted to one short document. Use “只” before the limited action or amount.

需要 “需要” means need; in “我只需要打印一份简短的文件。”, the speaker says that printing the document is all that is needed. It is followed by the action “打印”. Use “需要 + action” or “需要 + object” when stating a requirement.

份 “份” is the measure word used in “一份简短的文件” for one document. It comes between “一” and “文件”. Use it when counting a document or a similar individual copy.

简短 “简短” means short or brief and describes the document in “一份简短的文件”. It appears before “的文件” to give information about the document. Use it before a noun when emphasizing that the content or length is brief.

文件 “文件” means document or file; here it is the short document to be printed. It appears at the end of “一份简短的文件”. Use “文件” when referring to a document selected for printing or viewing.

那 “那” means then or in that case in “那就在开始前查看预览。”. It connects the advice to the speaker’s statement about printing a short document. Use it when responding to information and introducing a resulting suggestion.

就 In “那就在开始前查看预览。”, “就” helps express the resulting next step: then check the preview. It follows “那” in the response “那就…”. Use “那就” when drawing a practical conclusion from what someone has just said.

开始 “开始” means start or begin; in “开始前”, it refers to the moment before starting the printing process. It is followed by “前” to mark the earlier time. Use it when referring to the beginning of an activity.

查看 “查看” means check or view carefully; here it refers to checking the preview before starting. In “查看预览”, the preview is the object of the checking action. Use it before information or a display that you want to inspect.

预览 “预览” means preview, the display checked before printing begins. It is the object of “查看” in “查看预览”. Use it when inspecting how a document will look before carrying out an action.

好 In “打印好的纸张”, “好” shows that the printing has been completed, so the phrase refers to paper that has already been printed. It follows “打印” and describes the resulting paper. Use this form after an action when referring to something in its completed state.

纸张 “纸张” means paper or printed pages; here it refers to the pages produced by the printer in “打印好的纸张”. It is the thing whose output location is being asked about. Use it when referring to paper as a material or as printed pages.

从 “从” means from and introduces the place where the printed pages emerge in “从哪里出来”. It comes before the location question word “哪里”. Use “从” before a source or starting place when asking or saying where something comes from.

哪里 “哪里” means where and asks about the output location in “打印好的纸张从哪里出来？”. Together with “从”, it asks where the pages come out from. Use it when asking for an unknown place.

出来 “出来” means come out or emerge; here it describes the printed pages emerging from the tray. It appears after “从哪里” in “从哪里出来？”. Use it when something moves or appears outward from a place.

它们 “它们” means they or them and refers back to the printed pages in “它们会从下面的纸盒出来。”. It is the subject of the answer about where the pages will emerge. Use it to refer to multiple non-human things already mentioned.

会 “会” indicates that the pages will or are expected to come out in “它们会从下面的纸盒出来。”. It presents the answer as the expected result of using the printer. Use it before an action when describing what is expected to happen.

下面 “下面” means below or underneath and identifies the position of the tray in “下面的纸盒”. It helps specify which paper tray is meant. Use it when locating an object beneath another place or object.

纸盒 “纸盒” means paper tray, the tray from which the printed pages come out. It appears in “下面的纸盒” to identify the output container. Use it when asking about or referring to the tray that holds paper.

Grammar Points

先 + 动词

先选择双面打印。

Xiān xuǎnzé shuāngmiàn dǎyìn.

First select double-sided printing.

先放在动词前，表示先做某事。

只需要 + 动词

只需要更改设置。

Zhǐ xūyào gēnggǎi shèzhì.

You only need to change the settings.

只需要表示只要做这一件事即可，强调所需动作很少。

Chinese Vocabulary

打印 verb

dǎyìn to print

打印机 noun

dǎyìnjī printer

更改 verb

gēnggǎi to change

屏幕 noun

píngmù screen

设置 noun

shèzhì setting

使用 verb

shǐyòng to use

双面打印 phrase

shuāngmiàn dǎyìn double-sided printing

图书馆 noun

túshūguǎn library

先 adv

xiān first

选择 verb

xuǎnzé to choose; to select

怎么 adv

zěnme how

只 adv

zhǐ only

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

double-sided printing

Show Answer

双面打印

to change

Show Answer

更改

setting

Show Answer

设置

to print

Show Answer

打印