About This Lesson
Use Finding a quiet place to work to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
有可以安静工作的地方吗？
yǒu kěyǐ ānjìng gōngzuò de dìfang ma Is there a quiet area where I can work?
B
楼上左边有安静学习的桌子。
lóushàng zuǒbian yǒu ānjìng xuéxí de zhuōzi There are desks for quiet study upstairs on the left.
A
我可以在那里接一通简短的电话吗？
wǒ kěyǐ zài nàli jiē yì tōng jiǎnduǎn de diànhuà ma Could I take a short call there?
B
那些桌子只能用于安静学习。
nàxiē zhuōzi zhǐnéng yòngyú ānjìng xuéxí Those desks are only for silent study.
A
那我去别的地方接电话吧。
nà wǒ qù biéde dìfang jiē diànhuà ba I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.
B
大厅更适合打电话。
dàtīng gèng shìhé dǎ diànhuà The lobby is better for calls.
A
楼上的一张桌子就可以。
lóushàng de yì zhāng zhuōzi jiù kěyǐ An upstairs desk will work for me.
B
下午通常很安静。
xiàwǔ tōngcháng hěn ānjìng It is usually calm in the afternoon.Word by Word
有
In “有可以安静工作的地方吗？”, “有” means that a place exists: “there is”. It commonly introduces something that exists or is available, as in “有 + place/object”.
可以
In “可以安静工作”, “可以” expresses that working quietly is possible. It commonly comes before a verb in the pattern “可以 + verb”.
安静
In “安静工作” and “安静学习”, “安静” describes doing the activity quietly, without disturbing others. It can come before an activity to describe the manner of doing it.
工作
“工作” means “work” here, as the activity the speaker wants to do in the library. It commonly follows a modal word such as “可以”, as in “可以工作”.
的
In “可以安静工作的地方”, “的” links the description “可以安静工作” to the noun “地方”. A reusable pattern is “description + 的 + noun” for identifying a particular place or thing.
地方
In “可以安静工作的地方”, “地方” means “place” or “area”. The pattern “……的地方” refers to a place where the described activity can happen.
吗
At the end of “有可以安静工作的地方吗？”, “吗” turns the sentence into a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end when asking whether something exists or is possible.
楼上
In “楼上左边”, “楼上” means “upstairs” and identifies the location of the desks. It can be placed before another location word to give a more specific direction.
左边
In “楼上左边”, “左边” means “the left side”. It is used to identify where something is, often after a larger location such as “楼上”.
学习
In “安静学习”, “学习” means “study” or “studying”, the activity for which the desks are provided. It commonly follows a word describing how the activity is done.
桌子
In “安静学习的桌子” and “一张桌子”, “桌子” means “desk” or “table”. It can be counted with “一张”, as in “一张桌子”.
我
“我” means “I” or “me”; here it is the person asking for permission in “我可以在那里接一通简短的电话吗？”. It commonly appears before the verb or verb phrase that describes what the speaker does.
在
In “在那里”, “在” marks the location where an action happens, meaning “at” or “in”. A reliable pattern is “在 + location”, as in “在那里接”.
那里
In “在那里接一通简短的电话”, “那里” means “there” and refers to the desks or area just mentioned. It commonly follows “在” to form a location phrase.
接
In “接一通简短的电话” and “接电话”, “接” means to answer or receive a phone call. The reusable pattern “接电话” describes handling a call that comes in.
一
In “一通简短的电话”, “一” means “one” and comes before the measure word “通”. Chinese commonly uses a number followed by a measure word before the noun.
通
In “一通简短的电话”, “通” is the measure word used for a phone call. The reusable pattern is “一通 + 电话” for referring to one call.
简短
In “简短的电话”, “简短” means “short” or “brief” and describes the call. The pattern “简短的 + noun” identifies something that is brief.
电话
In “接一通简短的电话” and “接电话”, “电话” means “phone call” in this context. With “接” it is a call received or answered, while “打电话” refers to making a call.
那些
In “那些桌子”, “那些” means “those” and points to the desks previously mentioned. It comes before a noun in the pattern “那些 + noun”.
只
In “只能用于安静学习”, “只” means “only” and limits the permitted use of the desks. It commonly appears before the verb or verb phrase whose scope is being limited.
能
In “只能用于安静学习”, “能” contributes the meaning of being able or allowed to be used; “只” restricts that use to one purpose. It commonly comes before a verb in the pattern “能 + verb”.
用于
In “只能用于安静学习”, “用于” means “be used for” and is followed directly by the purpose “安静学习”. A reliable pattern is “用于 + purpose” when explaining what something is for.
那
At the beginning of “那我去别的地方接电话吧”, “那” means “then” or “in that case”. It connects the previous information to the speaker’s next decision, commonly in the pattern “那 + decision”.
去
In “去别的地方”, “去” means “go” toward another place. It commonly comes before a destination in the pattern “去 + place”.
别的
In “别的地方”, “别的” means “other” or “another” and describes a different place from the desks already discussed. It commonly comes before a noun in the pattern “别的 + noun”.
吧
At the end of “那我去别的地方接电话吧”, “吧” softens the speaker’s decision and makes it sound less forceful. It commonly appears at the end of a suggestion or a softly stated choice.
大厅
In “大厅更适合打电话”, “大厅” means “lobby” or “hall”, the area recommended for calls. It can be used as the location being evaluated for a particular activity.
更
In “更适合打电话”, “更” makes the comparison “more suitable” or “better suited”. It commonly comes before the word or phrase being compared.
适合
In “大厅更适合打电话”, “适合” means “be suitable for”, with “打电话” naming the activity. A reliable pattern is “适合 + activity” to say what a place or thing is suitable for.
打
In “打电话”, “打” means to make or place a phone call. The fixed pattern “打电话” describes calling someone, in contrast with “接电话” for answering a call.
张
In “一张桌子”, “张” is the measure word used for a desk or another flat object. The reusable counting pattern is “number + 张 + noun”.
就
In “一张桌子就可以”, “就” highlights that an upstairs desk is sufficient for the speaker. The pattern “……就可以” can express that an option will do or is acceptable.
下午
In “下午通常很安静”, “下午” means “afternoon” and sets the time when the lobby or area is calm. It can appear at the beginning of a time-based statement before the main description.
通常
In “下午通常很安静”, “通常” means “usually” and shows that the situation is generally true, though not necessarily every time. It commonly comes before the main predicate.
很
In “很安静”, “很” is a degree word meaning “very” or “quite” and comes before “安静”. The reliable pattern is “很 + adjective” when describing a degree or making an adjective the predicate.
Grammar Points
只能 + 动词
那些电话只能用于工作。
nàxiē diànhuà zhǐnéng yòngyú gōngzuòThose phone calls can only be used for work.
只能 comes before the verb to express a limited possibility or permitted use.
更 + 形容词
大厅更适合打电话。
dàtīng gèng shìhé dǎ diànhuàThe lobby is more suitable for making phone calls.
更 comes before an adjective to make a comparative meaning, such as “more suitable.”
Chinese Vocabulary
安静
adj
ānjìng
quiet; calm
有可以安静工作的地方吗?
地方
noun
dìfang
place; area
有可以安静工作的地方吗?
电话
noun
diànhuà
telephone; phone call
我可以在那里接一通简短的电话吗?
工作
verb
gōngzuò
to work
有可以安静工作的地方吗?
简短
adj
jiǎnduǎn
short; brief
我可以在那里接一通简短的电话吗?
接电话
phrase
jiē diànhuà
to answer or take a phone call
那我去别的地方接电话吧。
楼上
adv
lóushàng
upstairs
楼上左边有安静学习的桌子。
那里
pron
nàli
there
我可以在那里接一通简短的电话吗?
那些
det
nàxiē
those
那些桌子只能用于安静学习。
学习
verb
xuéxí
to study
楼上左边有安静学习的桌子。
桌子
noun
zhuōzi
desk; table
楼上左边有安静学习的桌子。
左边
noun
zuǒbian
left side
楼上左边有安静学习的桌子。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
short; brief
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简短to work
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工作to study
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学习there