Borrowing a Pan for Cooking | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a Pan for Cooking to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？

Wǒ jīntiān kěyǐ jiè nǐ de dà píngdǐguō ma? Can I borrow your large pan today?

可以，但是要小心锅柄，因为它会变热。

Kěyǐ, dànshì yào xiǎoxīn guōbǐng, yīnwèi tā huì biàn rè. You can, but watch the handle because it gets hot.

这口锅放在这个炉子上可以吗？

Zhè kǒu guō fàng zài zhège lúzi shàng kěyǐ ma? Will it be all right on this stove?

如果你把火调小，应该没问题。

Rúguǒ nǐ bǎ huǒ tiáo xiǎo, yīnggāi méi wèntí. It should be fine if you keep the heat low.

我会在晚饭后马上把它洗干净。

Wǒ huì zài wǎnfànhòu mǎshàng bǎ tā xǐ gānjìng. I will wash it right after dinner.

请在把它还给我之前把它擦干。

Qǐng zài bǎ tā huán gěi wǒ zhīqián bǎ tā cā gān. Please dry it well before bringing it back to me.

你想让我什么时候还给你？

Nǐ xiǎng ràng wǒ shénme shíhou huán gěi nǐ? When would you like it back?

晚饭后还给我就行。

Wǎnfànhòu huán gěi wǒ jiù xíng. After dinner is fine.

这周晚些时候我才会再需要它。

Zhè zhōu wǎnxiē shíhou wǒ cái huì zài xūyào tā. I will not need it again until later this week.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me”; here it is the person asking to borrow the pan in “我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？”. It commonly appears before the action or description. Use it when referring to yourself in a conversation.

今天 “今天” means “today” and places the borrowing request on the current day in “我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？”. It commonly appears before the main action. Use it when arranging something for the current day.

可以 “可以” means “may” or “be allowed to” in the request “我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？”. Here it asks whether the action is permitted, while in other contexts it can mean that something is possible or okay. It is useful for asking permission politely.

借 “借” means “borrow” in “我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？”; the speaker wants to use something belonging to another person. It commonly appears before the thing being borrowed. Use it when asking to borrow an item from someone.

你 “你” means “you” and identifies the person who owns the pan in “借你的大平底锅”. It commonly appears before 的 when describing something belonging to the listener. Use it when addressing one person directly.

的 “的” links “你” with “大平底锅” in “你的大平底锅”, showing that the pan belongs to the person addressed. It commonly follows a person or other description before a noun. Use it to identify possession or association.

大 “大” means “large” in “大平底锅” and describes the size of the pan. It appears before the noun it describes. Use it when distinguishing a larger item from another item of the same kind.

平底锅 “平底锅” means “flat-bottomed pan” in “你的大平底锅”. It is the cooking item being borrowed and later washed and returned. Use it when referring specifically to this type of pan.

吗 “吗” turns “我今天可以借你的大平底锅吗？” into a yes-or-no question. It appears at the end of the question. Use it when asking whether a statement or request is acceptable.

但是 “但是” means “but” and introduces B’s caution after agreeing in “可以，但是要小心锅柄”. It connects two parts with a contrast. Use it when an agreement or statement is followed by a limitation or warning.

要 “要” means “need to” or “should” in “要小心锅柄”, giving the listener a necessary safety instruction. Here it comes before the action or condition being advised. Use it when telling someone what they should do.

小心 “小心” means “be careful” in “要小心锅柄”. Together with 要, it gives a warning about handling the pan handle safely. Use it when warning someone about a possible danger.

锅柄 “锅柄” means “pan handle” and is the part the listener is warned about in “要小心锅柄”. It identifies a specific part of the cooking item. Use it when discussing holding or handling a pan.

因为 “因为” means “because” and introduces the reason for the warning in “因为它会变热”. It connects a situation with its explanation. Use it before the reason why something happens or why advice is necessary.

它 “它” means “it”; here it refers to the pan handle in “因为它会变热”. It is used for a non-person object already understood from the conversation. Use it to avoid repeating the name of an object.

会 “会” in “它会变热” shows that the handle will or is likely to become hot when used. It appears before the change or action that is expected. Use it when describing an expected future result or likely event.

变 “变” means “become” in “变热”, describing a change into a hot state. It is followed here by “热”, which gives the resulting condition. Use it when describing something changing in state or quality.

热 “热” means “hot” in “变热”, the condition the handle reaches. After 变, it describes the resulting state. Use it when talking about the temperature of an object or place.

这 “这” means “this” and points to the pan being discussed in “这口锅”. It appears before the classifier and noun. Use it when identifying something near the speaker or currently under discussion.

口 “口” is the classifier used for the pot or pan in “这口锅”. It comes between “这” and “锅” to form the noun phrase. Use it when counting or identifying a cooking pot or pan.

锅 “锅” means “pot” or “pan” in “这口锅”. Here it refers to the borrowed cooking vessel as it is considered for use on the stove. Use it for a cooking vessel when the exact type is not being emphasized.

放 “放” means “put” or “place” in “这口锅放在这个炉子上可以吗？”. It describes placing the pan on the stove and checking whether that arrangement is okay. Use it when describing where an object is placed.

在 “在” introduces the location in “放在这个炉子上”, showing where the pan is placed. It commonly appears before a place or location phrase. Use it when specifying where an action or object is situated.

个 “个” is the general classifier in “这个炉子”. It appears between “这” and “炉子” when pointing to this stove. Use it as a general classifier when a more specific classifier is not needed.

炉子 “炉子” means “stove” in “这个炉子”. It names the surface or appliance on which the pan may be placed. Use it when referring to a stove used for cooking.

上 “上” means “on” in “这个炉子上”, identifying the stove’s surface as the location. It follows the location noun in this phrase. Use it when describing something positioned on top of a surface.

如果 “如果” means “if” and introduces the condition in “如果你把火调小”. It connects a possible condition with the result “应该没问题”. Use it when explaining what will be true under a certain condition.

把 “把” marks “火” as the object being deliberately adjusted in “把火调小”. The construction focuses on what is done to that object. Use it when describing an action that handles or changes a specific object.

火 “火” means “heat” or “fire” in “把火调小”; here it refers to the stove heat being lowered. It is the thing affected by the adjustment. Use it when talking about the heat or flame used for cooking.

调 “调” means “adjust” or “set” in “把火调小”. It describes changing the stove heat to a lower level. Use it when changing a setting, level, or intensity.

小 “小” means “low” in “调小”, describing the lower heat setting rather than the physical size of an object. It shows the direction of the adjustment. Use it when a level or amount is reduced.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “应该没问题”, expressing an expectation that the pan will be fine if the heat is kept low. It commonly appears before the expected result or action. Use it when giving a reasonable prediction without stating absolute certainty.

没 “没” means “not” in the fixed expression “没问题”, which means “no problem”. Here it negates the existence of a problem rather than describing something that has not happened. Use it in this expression when reassuring someone that something is acceptable.

问题 “问题” means “problem” in “没问题”. Together, “没问题” reassures the speaker that using the pan on the stove is acceptable. Use it when discussing whether something is causing difficulty or concern.

晚饭 “晚饭” means “dinner” in “晚饭后”. It provides the time reference for washing the pan and returning it. Use it when arranging something in relation to the evening meal.

后 “后” means “after” in “晚饭后”, placing the action after dinner. It follows the event used as the time reference. Use it after a time or event when saying that something happens later.

马上 “马上” means “right away” in “晚饭后马上”, showing that the pan will be washed immediately after dinner. It commonly appears before the action that will happen without delay. Use it when promising quick action.

洗 “洗” means “wash” in “把它洗干净”. It describes cleaning the borrowed pan after dinner. Use it before the object being washed, especially when explaining a cleaning task.

干净 “干净” means “clean” in “洗干净”, describing the result expected from washing the pan. Together, the expression means to wash something until it is clean. Use it when the result of cleaning matters.

请 “请” means “please” and makes the instruction polite in “请在把它还给我之前把它擦干”. It appears at the beginning of the request. Use it when politely asking someone to do something.

还 “还” means “return” in “把它还给我”, referring to giving the borrowed pan back to its owner. It commonly appears with the recipient introduced by 给. Use it when returning an item that was borrowed.

给 “给” identifies the recipient in “还给我”, meaning that the pan is returned to me. Here it contributes the meaning “to” rather than simply “give” as a separate action. Use it to show who receives or benefits from an action.

之前 “之前” means “before” in “把它还给我之前”, placing the drying action before returning the pan. It marks an earlier time relative to another event. Use it when setting a deadline or condition that must happen first.

擦 “擦” means “wipe” in “把它擦干”, describing drying the pan by wiping it. The expression focuses on removing moisture from the pan before it is returned. Use it when drying or cleaning a surface with a cloth or similar item.

想 “想” means “want” or “would like” in “你想让我什么时候还给你？”. It introduces the other person’s preferred time for the return. Use it when asking about someone’s preference or desired action.

让 “让” marks the person who is to carry out the following action in “让我什么时候还给你”; here that person is the speaker. It can introduce a request or arrangement involving another person’s action. Use it when saying that someone lets or has another person do something.

什么时候 “什么时候” means “when” in “你想让我什么时候还给你？”. It asks for the time at which the pan should be returned. Use it when asking about an unspecified time.

就 “就” in “晚饭后还给我就行” connects the stated action with acceptance, giving the sense of “then” or “simply”. It helps present returning the pan after dinner as sufficient. Use it in an expression that says a particular arrangement will be enough.

行 “行” means “be okay” or “work” in “晚饭后还给我就行”. Together, “就行” means that the proposed arrangement is acceptable. Use it when approving a plan or saying that something is sufficient.

周 “周” means “week” in “这周晚些时候”. It identifies the larger time period in which the owner will need the pan again. Use it when referring to a week as a time period.

晚些 “晚些” means “a little later” in “晚些时候”, placing the future need later within the week. It modifies the time reference that follows it. Use it when referring to a later point without specifying an exact time.

时候 “时候” means “time” or “point in time” in “晚些时候”. It helps identify when the owner will need the pan again. Use it after a time description when referring to that period or moment.

才 “才” in “这周晚些时候我才会再需要它” means “not until”, emphasizing that the need will arise only at that later time. It highlights a delayed point in time. Use it when something happens later than the present or than expected.

再 “再” means “again” in “再需要它”, referring to needing the pan another time. It appears before the action or state that will happen again. Use it when an action or need will recur.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “再需要它”, referring to needing the pan again later in the week. It commonly appears before the object that is needed. Use it when explaining that something is required or wanted for a purpose.

Grammar Points

如果……，就……

如果这口锅变热，就调小火。

Rúguǒ zhè kǒu guō biàn rè, jiù tiáo xiǎo huǒ.

If this pan becomes hot, turn down the heat.

用“如果”提出条件，用“就”说明条件成立后的结果。

Chinese Vocabulary

变热 verb

biàn rè become hot

但是 conj

dànshì but

放在 verb

fàng zài place on; be placed on

锅柄 noun

guōbǐng pan handle

火 noun

huǒ heat; flame

借 verb

jiè borrow

炉子 noun

lúzi stove

平底锅 noun

píngdǐguō frying pan

如果 conj

rúguǒ if

小心 verb

xiǎoxīn be careful

因为 conj

yīnwèi because

这口锅 noun

zhè kǒu guō this pan

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

become hot

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变热

place on; be placed on

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放在

because

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因为

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如果