Borrowing and renewing a library book | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing and renewing a library book to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

这本书我可以借多久？

Zhè běn shū wǒ kěyǐ jiè duō jiǔ? How long can I keep this book?

借书单上写着归还日期。

Jièshūdān shàng xiězhe guīhuán rìqī. The slip shows the due date.

如果我需要多一点时间，应该怎么办？

Rúguǒ wǒ xūyào duō yìdiǎn shíjiān, yīnggāi zěnme bàn? What should I do if I need more time?

如果没有其他人在等这本书，你可以在网上续借。

Rúguǒ méiyǒu qítā rén zài děng zhè běn shū, nǐ kěyǐ zài wǎngshàng xùjiè. You can extend the loan online if no one else is waiting for the book.

我可以在家办理吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ zài jiā bànlǐ ma? Can I do that from home?

在家登录你的图书馆账户。

Zài jiā dēnglù nǐ de túshūguǎn zhànghù. Log in to your library account from home.

那我应该把借书单和书放在一起。

Nà wǒ yīnggāi bǎ jièshūdān hé shū fàng zài yìqǐ. Then I should keep the slip with the book.

这样可以帮助你按时归还这本书。

Zhèyàng kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ ànshí guīhuán zhè běn shū. It will help you return it on time.

Word by Word

这 “这” identifies the specific book being discussed, meaning “this.” It appears before “本书” to point to an item near the speaker or already understood in the conversation. Use it when referring to a particular nearby or previously mentioned thing.

本 “本” is the classifier used for the book in “这本书.” It comes between “这” and “书,” so the reusable pattern is determiner + 本 + book. Use it when counting or identifying books.

书 “书” means “book,” the item being borrowed and returned in this dialogue. It appears in “这本书” and in “借书单,” where it helps identify the borrowing slip. Use it when talking about a book or books.

我 “我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” or “me.” In “这本书我可以借多久,” it is the person asking about borrowing the book. Use it to identify yourself as the person doing or experiencing an action.

可以 “可以” expresses permission or possibility here: the speaker asks whether they may keep the book for a certain length of time. It appears before “借” in “我可以借多久.” Use the pattern 可以 + action when asking or stating whether an action is allowed or possible.

借 “借” means “borrow” here, referring to taking the book from the library and keeping it on loan. In “我可以借多久,” it is followed by “多久” to ask about the length of the loan. Use it with an item that is borrowed, such as “书” in this dialogue.

多久 “多久” asks how long a period lasts. In “我可以借多久,” it asks for the permitted length of time for borrowing the book. Use it after an action when asking about its duration.

借书单 “借书单” is the borrowing slip connected with the book loan. In “借书单上写着归还日期,” it is the document on which the return date is written. Use it when referring to a library slip that records borrowing information.

上 “上” means “on” in “借书单上,” locating the written information on the borrowing slip. The pattern is a document or surface + 上 + information or action. Use it when saying that something is on a document or surface.

写 In “写着,” “写” contributes the idea that the return date is written on the slip. Here it describes information recorded in writing rather than an action being requested. Use it with written information or the place where information is recorded.

着 In “写着,” “着” shows that the written state is present: the return date is there on the slip. It follows “写” to describe an existing result or state. Use this form when focusing on information that remains written or displayed.

归还 “归还” means “return,” specifically returning the borrowed book to the library. It appears in “归还日期” and “按时归还这本书,” linking the action to the due date and the book. Use it with an item that must be returned.

日期 “日期” means “date.” In “归还日期,” it identifies the date by which the book should be returned. Use it after a relevant action or event when referring to its calendar date.

如果 “如果” introduces a condition, meaning “if.” In “如果我需要多一点时间,” it sets up the situation in which the speaker needs extra time. Use the pattern 如果 + situation, followed by the action or result for that situation.

需要 “需要” means “need” here: the speaker needs more time to keep the book. It is followed by “多一点时间,” showing what is needed. Use it before a needed thing or action.

多 “多” means “more” or “extra” in “多一点时间.” It indicates that the speaker wants an amount beyond the time already available. Use it before an amount to express an increase.

一点 “一点” means “a little” or “a small amount.” Together with “多,” “多一点时间” means a little more time. Use it after “多” when asking for or describing a small additional amount.

时间 “时间” means “time,” specifically the extra period the speaker may need to keep the book. It appears in “多一点时间,” where it follows the amount phrase. Use it when discussing how much time is available or needed.

应该 “应该” means “should” and introduces the action that is considered appropriate. In “应该怎么办,” the speaker asks what action is appropriate if more time is needed. Use it before an action when asking for or giving advice.

怎么办 “怎么办” asks what to do or how to handle a situation. In “如果我需要多一点时间，应该怎么办,” “怎么” asks in what way and “办” contributes the idea of handling or dealing with the matter; together, “怎么办” forms the complete question. Use it after a problem or situation when asking for a practical solution.

没有 “没有” means that something or someone is not present or does not exist in the relevant situation. In “没有其他人在等这本书,” it says that no other people are waiting for the book. Use it before a person or thing when stating that it is absent or unavailable.

其他 “其他” means “other” or “another” and narrows the reference to people besides the person already being discussed. In “其他人,” it comes before “人.” Use the pattern 其他 + person or thing when referring to additional ones.

人 “人” means “person” or “people.” In “其他人,” it refers to people who might also be waiting for the book. Use it after a word such as “其他” when identifying people.

在 “在” has two functions in this dialogue: in “在等,” it indicates that waiting is in progress, and in “在家,” it marks the location “at home.” Use it before a place for location and before an action such as “等” when describing an ongoing activity.

等 “等” means “wait.” In “在等这本书,” it describes people waiting for this book to become available. Use it with the person or thing being awaited, as in “等这本书.”

你 “你” refers to the person being addressed, meaning “you.” In “你可以在网上续借,” it identifies the listener as the person who may renew the loan. Use it when speaking directly to one person.

网上 “网上” means “online” or “on the internet.” In “在网上续借,” it describes the place or method used to renew the loan. Use it before an online action, as in 网上 + action.

续借 “续借” means “renew a loan,” allowing the borrower to keep the library book for additional time. In “在网上续借,” it is the action completed online if nobody else is waiting. Use it with a borrowed library item or loan.

家 “家” means “home.” In “在家办理” and “在家登录,” it identifies home as the place where the procedure or login can happen. Use it after “在” when describing an action done at home.

办理 “办理” means to handle or complete an official procedure. In “我可以在家办理吗,” it refers to completing the renewal-related procedure from home. Use it for handling an administrative matter or service procedure.

登录 “登录” means “log in.” In “登录你的图书馆账户,” it is the action of entering the library account. Use it before an account or service that someone logs into.

的 “的” links “你” with “图书馆账户” in “你的图书馆账户,” showing that the account belongs to or is associated with you. The reusable pattern is person + 的 + thing. Use it to connect a possessor or describer with a following noun.

图书馆 “图书馆” means “library.” In “你的图书馆账户,” it identifies the library connected with the account. Use it when referring to the library or its services.

账户 “账户” means “account,” here the library account used to manage the loan online. It appears after “图书馆” in “图书馆账户.” Use it with an organization or service whose account is being accessed.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我应该把借书单和书放在一起.” It connects the previous advice about renewing with the speaker’s conclusion about what to do next. Use it at the beginning of a response when drawing a conclusion from what was just said.

把 “把” marks “借书单和书” as the objects being arranged in “把借书单和书放在一起.” It places the handled object before the action, with the result or location following the verb. Use the pattern 把 + object + action/result when describing what is done to a specific object.

和 “和” means “and” and connects the two items in “借书单和书.” Together they are treated as the objects to place in the same location. Use it to join nouns or noun phrases.

放 “放” means “put” or “place.” In “放在一起,” it describes placing the borrowing slip and the book in the same location. Use it with an object and a location or arrangement, such as “放在一起.”

一起 “一起” means “together.” In “放在一起,” it describes the result of placing the slip and book with each other. Use it after an action to show that people or things are kept or done together.

这样 “这样” means “in this way” or “this arrangement.” In “这样可以帮助你按时归还这本书,” it refers to keeping the slip and book together, which makes returning the book on time easier. Use it to refer back to an action or arrangement just mentioned.

帮助 “帮助” means “help.” In “帮助你按时归还这本书,” it introduces the benefit that the arrangement provides for the listener. Use the pattern 帮助 + person + action when saying that something helps someone do something.

按时 “按时” means “on time,” according to the required schedule or due date. In “按时归还这本书,” it describes returning the book by the required date. Use it before an action that must happen according to a schedule.

Grammar Points

如果……，怎么办？

如果需要时间，怎么办？

Rúguǒ xūyào shíjiān, zěnme bàn?

If I need time, what should I do?

Use 如果 for a condition, followed by 怎么办 to ask what action to take.

按时 + 动词

按时归还

Ànshí guīhuán

return on time

The adverb 按时 comes before the verb to show that an action is completed on time.

Chinese Vocabulary

等 verb

děng to wait

如果没有其他人在等这本书,你可以在网上续借。

归还日期 noun

guīhuán rìqī due date; return date

借书单上写着归还日期。

借 verb

jiè to borrow; to keep on loan

这本书我可以借多久?

借书单 noun

jièshūdān library slip; borrowing slip

借书单上写着归还日期。

其他人 pron

qítā rén other people; someone else

如果没有其他人在等这本书,你可以在网上续借。

如果 conj

rúguǒ if

如果我需要多一点时间,应该怎么办?

时间 noun

shíjiān time

如果我需要多一点时间,应该怎么办?

书 noun

shū book

这本书我可以借多久?

网上 adv

wǎngshàng online; on the internet

你可以在网上续借。

需要 verb

xūyào to need

如果我需要多一点时间,应该怎么办?

续借 verb

xùjiè to renew a loan

你可以在网上续借。

怎么办 phrase

zěnme bàn what to do; how should I handle it

如果我需要多一点时间,应该怎么办?

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

due date; return date

Show Answer

归还日期

other people; someone else

Show Answer

其他人

to renew a loan

Show Answer

续借

time

Show Answer

时间