Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it before dinner | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it before dinner to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我可以借你的螺丝刀做个小修理吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de luósīdāo zuò ge xiǎo xiūlǐ ma? Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?

它在蓝色工具箱里。

Tā zài lánsè gōngjùxiāng lǐ. It is in the blue toolbox.

我需要拧紧搁板支架。

Wǒ xūyào nǐngjǐn gēbǎn zhījià. I need to tighten the shelf brackets.

用中号螺丝刀。

Yòng zhōnghào luósīdāo. Use the medium screwdriver.

它更适合那些支架。

Tā gèng shìhé nàxiē zhījià. It fits those brackets better.

我什么时候该还它？

Wǒ shénme shíhou gāi huán tā? When should I return it?

请在晚饭前把它还回来。

Qǐng zài wǎnfàn qián bǎ tā huán huílái. Please bring it back before dinner.

如果它沾上灰尘，我会先把它擦干净。

Rúguǒ tā zhān shàng huīchén, wǒ huì xiān bǎ tā cā gānjìng. If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.

这样可以让工具保持良好状态。

Zhèyàng kěyǐ ràng gōngjù bǎochí liánghǎo zhuàngtài. That helps keep the tools in good shape.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker as “I” or “me”; here it is the person asking to borrow the screwdriver. It commonly appears before an action, as in “我可以” and “我需要”.

可以 “可以” expresses permission or possibility; in “我可以借你的螺丝刀做个小修理吗？” it politely asks whether the speaker may borrow the screwdriver. It commonly comes before the action that is permitted or possible.

借 “借” means to borrow here: the speaker wants to take and use someone else’s screwdriver temporarily. It is used with the thing being borrowed, as in “借你的螺丝刀”.

你 “你” refers to the person being addressed; in “你的螺丝刀” it contributes the meaning “your.” It commonly comes before “的” when showing who something belongs to.

的 In “你的螺丝刀,” “的” links “你” to “螺丝刀” and shows possession, meaning “your screwdriver.” The reusable pattern is a person or pronoun followed by “的” and the possessed thing.

螺丝刀 “螺丝刀” means “screwdriver,” the tool being borrowed in this dialogue. It can be used after a possessive phrase, as in “你的螺丝刀,” or with a size description, as in “中号螺丝刀”.

做 “做” means to do or carry out; in “做个小修理” it describes carrying out a small repair. It commonly comes before a task or activity.

个 In “做个小修理,” “个” is a general measure word that presents “小修理” as one repair task. It appears between “做” and the noun phrase being treated as one task.

小 “小” describes the repair in “小修理” as small or minor. It is placed before the noun it describes, and the same position is used for other simple size descriptions.

修理 “修理” means repair here, referring to the small repair the speaker wants to carry out. In “做个小修理,” it is the task following “做.”

吗 “吗” turns “我可以借你的螺丝刀做个小修理” into a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of this question to request permission.

它 “它” refers to the screwdriver as “it.” In “它在蓝色工具箱里” it is the thing whose location is given, and in “把它还回来” it is the thing to be returned.

在 “在” shows location in “它在蓝色工具箱里,” meaning the screwdriver is located in the toolbox. A common location pattern is a thing followed by “在” and a place.

蓝色 “蓝色” means blue and describes the toolbox in “蓝色工具箱.” It is placed before the noun it describes.

工具箱 “工具箱” means toolbox, the place where the screwdriver is kept in the dialogue. It can follow a color description, as in “蓝色工具箱,” and can be followed by “里” to specify inside.

里 “里” means inside or in; in “蓝色工具箱里” it specifies the inside of the toolbox. It commonly follows a place noun when the intended location is within that place.

需要 “需要” means need; in “我需要拧紧搁板支架” it states that the speaker needs to tighten the shelf brackets. It commonly comes before the action or thing that is needed.

拧紧 “拧紧” means tighten, describing the action needed for the shelf brackets. It is used directly before the object of the action, as in “拧紧搁板支架.”

搁板 “搁板” means shelf, referring to the shelf whose brackets need attention. In “搁板支架,” it comes before “支架” to specify which brackets are meant.

支架 “支架” means bracket or support; here it refers to the supports for the shelf. It is the object after “拧紧” in “拧紧搁板支架.”

用 “用” means use; “用中号螺丝刀” tells the listener to use the medium screwdriver. It commonly comes before the tool or object used for an action.

中号 “中号” means medium-sized and describes the screwdriver in “中号螺丝刀.” It is placed before the object whose size is being specified.

更 “更” means more or to a greater degree; in “更适合那些支架” it says that the screwdriver is better suited to those brackets. It commonly comes before the adjective or descriptive word being strengthened.

适合 “适合” means be suitable for or fit; “它更适合那些支架” says that the screwdriver suits those brackets better. It commonly comes before the thing it is suitable for.

那些 “那些” means those and points to the brackets being discussed. In “那些支架,” it comes before the noun and identifies the particular brackets farther from the speaker’s immediate focus.

什么时候 “什么时候” asks when; in “我什么时候该还它？” it asks at what time the screwdriver should be returned. It commonly appears before the action or event whose time is being asked about.

该 “该” indicates what is expected or appropriate to do; in “什么时候该还它” it asks when the speaker is supposed to return the screwdriver. It commonly comes before the action that is due or appropriate.

还 “还” means return or give back here, referring to returning the borrowed screwdriver. In “该还它” it comes before the object being returned.

请 “请” makes “在晚饭前把它还回来” a polite request: please return it before dinner. It commonly comes at the beginning of a request or instruction.

晚饭 “晚饭” means dinner and provides the time reference in “晚饭前.” It can combine with “前” to express a deadline before dinner.

前 “前” means before or prior to; in “晚饭前” it sets dinner as the time boundary and means before dinner. It commonly follows a time or event when marking an earlier deadline.

把 “把” marks the object being handled in “把它还回来,” placing the screwdriver before the action and its result or direction. The full pattern “把它还回来” means to return it back, rather than giving “把” the meaning of return by itself.

回来 “回来” adds the meaning of coming or being brought back; in “把它还回来” it indicates returning the screwdriver back to the relevant place or person. It commonly follows an action verb when the action brings something back.

如果 “如果” introduces a condition: “如果它沾上灰尘” means if it gets dust on it. It commonly begins a condition clause before the result or response.

沾 “沾” means get onto or come into contact with; in “沾上灰尘” it describes dust getting onto the screwdriver. It is followed here by “上” and the substance affected.

上 In “沾上灰尘,” “上” completes the result of “沾” by showing that the dust has gotten onto the screwdriver. This pattern places the substance after the combined expression “沾上.”

灰尘 “灰尘” means dust, the material that may get onto the screwdriver in “沾上灰尘.” It follows the expression describing something getting onto the tool.

会 “会” expresses what the speaker will do in the stated situation; in “我会先把它擦干净,” it means the speaker will wipe it clean first. It commonly comes before the planned or expected action.

先 “先” means first; in “先把它擦干净” it places wiping the screwdriver clean before another implied later action. It commonly comes before the action that should happen earlier.

擦 “擦” means wipe; in “把它擦干净” it names the action used to clean the screwdriver. It commonly combines with “干净” to show that wiping makes something clean.

干净 “干净” means clean; after “擦” in “擦干净,” it describes the result of wiping the screwdriver. The expression “把它擦干净” means to wipe it until it is clean.

这样 “这样” means this way or in this manner; here it refers to wiping the tool clean first and presents that action as helpful. It can introduce the consequence or value of an action already mentioned.

让 “让” means let or make; in “让工具保持良好状态” it introduces the result that the action helps the tools remain in good condition. It commonly comes before the thing affected and the state or action that follows.

工具 “工具” means tools, referring here to the screwdriver and the other tools in the shared space. In “让工具保持良好状态,” it is the thing whose condition is being maintained.

保持 “保持” means keep or maintain; in “保持良好状态” it describes continuing in a good condition. It commonly comes before the state that should be maintained.

良好 “良好” means good or favorable; in “良好状态” it describes the condition the tools should remain in. It is placed before “状态” to form the description of that condition.

状态 “状态” means condition or state; in “保持良好状态” it refers to the tools’ condition. It commonly follows a describing word such as “良好” when specifying what kind of condition is meant.

Grammar Points

如果……，就……

如果需要螺丝刀，就借工具箱。

Rúguǒ xūyào luósīdāo, jiù jiè gōngjùxiāng.

If you need a screwdriver, borrow the toolbox.

Chinese commonly pairs 如果 with 就 to show a clear condition and result.

什么时候……？

什么时候还工具箱？

Shénme shíhou huán gōngjùxiāng?

When will you return the toolbox?

什么时候 stays in the position of the missing time information, usually before the verb.

Chinese Vocabulary

搁板 noun

gēbǎn shelf

工具箱 noun

gōngjùxiāng toolbox

借 verb

jiè to borrow

蓝色 adj

lánsè blue

螺丝刀 noun

luósīdāo screwdriver

拧紧 verb

nǐngjǐn to tighten

什么时候 pron

shénme shíhou when

适合 verb

shìhé to fit; to suit

修理 noun

xiūlǐ repair

需要 verb

xūyào to need

支架 noun

zhījià bracket

中号 adj

zhōnghào medium-sized

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

when

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什么时候

repair

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修理

bracket

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支架

to need

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需要