About This Lesson
Use Borrowing cleaning tools from a neighbor to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我可以用一点清洁喷剂吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng yìdiǎn qīngjié pēnjì ma? Can I use some cleaning spray?
B
它在水槽下面。有东西洒了吗？
Tā zài shuǐcáo xiàmian. Yǒu dōngxi sǎ le ma? It is under the sink. Did something spill?
A
果汁洒在厨房地板上了。
Guǒzhī sǎ zài chúfáng dìbǎn shàng le. Juice spilled on the kitchen floor.
B
也把小桶拿上，这样你可以冲洗拖把。
Yě bǎ xiǎotǒng ná shàng, zhèyàng nǐ kěyǐ chōngxǐ tuōbǎ. Take the small bucket too, so you can rinse the mop.
A
这很有帮助。我用完后会把两样东西都拿回来。
Zhè hěn yǒu bāngzhù. Wǒ yòng wán hòu huì bǎ liǎngyàng dōngxi dōu ná huílái. That helps. I will bring both back when I finish.
B
等一切都干了以后，把它们放在我门边。
Děng yíqiè dōu gān le yǐhòu, bǎ tāmen fàng zài wǒ ménbiān. Leave them by my door once everything is dry.
A
谢谢你帮我收拾这一团糟。
Xièxie nǐ bāng wǒ shōushi zhè yì tuán zāo. I appreciate your help with this mess.
B
之后一定要确保地板不滑。
Zhīhòu yídìng yào quèbǎo dìbǎn bù huá. Just make sure the floor is not slippery afterward.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” here, referring to the person asking to use the spray. It commonly comes before the action in 我可以用一点清洁喷剂吗？ and can be followed by 可以 to ask for permission.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” here, expressing permission to use something. In 我可以用一点清洁喷剂吗？, it comes before the action and is followed by 吗 to make a permission question. A common reuse pattern is 可以 + action.
用
用 means “use” here, referring to using the cleaning spray. It comes before the item in 用一点清洁喷剂, and a common reuse pattern is 用 + object.
一点
一点 means “some” or “a little” here, indicating a small amount of the spray. It comes before the noun in 一点清洁喷剂. A common reuse pattern is 一点 + uncounted material or substance.
清洁
清洁 describes the purpose of the spray in 清洁喷剂: it is for cleaning. It comes before 喷剂 to describe what kind of spray it is. This pattern can be reused with 清洁 + object when naming something used for cleaning.
喷剂
喷剂 means “spray” here, the cleaning product being requested. In 清洁喷剂, it follows 清洁 and names the substance or product. It can be reused after a word describing the spray’s purpose.
吗
吗 is placed at the end of 我可以用一点清洁喷剂吗？ to turn the statement into a yes-or-no question. It is useful after a complete question statement when asking for permission or confirmation.
它
它 means “it” here and refers to the cleaning spray. In 它在水槽下面, it is the subject before the location phrase. A common reuse pattern is 它在 + place.
在
在 indicates the location of the spray in 它在水槽下面: it is located under the sink. It comes before the place phrase. A common reuse pattern is subject + 在 + location.
水槽
水槽 means “sink” here, the fixture under which the spray is located. In 水槽下面, it is followed by 下面 to specify the position. It can be reused as the object of a location phrase.
下面
下面 means “under” or “below” here, describing the position relative to 水槽. In 水槽下面, it follows the reference object and gives the location of 它. A common reuse pattern is object + 下面.
有
有 introduces the existence of something in 有东西洒了吗？, meaning that something may have spilled. It comes before 东西 and can be used to introduce an unspecified thing or event.
东西
东西 means “thing” or “something” here, referring to an unspecified item or substance. In 有东西洒了吗？, it is the thing that may have spilled. A common reuse pattern is 有 + 东西 when the specific item is not known.
洒
洒 means “spill” in the question 有东西洒了吗？ and the statement 果汁洒在厨房地板上了. It describes liquid spreading onto a surface. A common reuse pattern is a liquid + 洒在 + surface.
了
了 shows a completed or newly changed situation in 果汁洒在厨房地板上了. Here it presents the spill as an event that has happened and is now relevant. It commonly appears at the end of a statement about a new situation.
果汁
果汁 means “juice” here, the liquid that spilled. In 果汁洒在厨房地板上了, it comes before 洒 and identifies what spilled. It can be reused as the subject of an action involving a drink.
厨房
厨房 means “kitchen” here, identifying the area where the floor is located. In 厨房地板, it comes before 地板 to specify which floor. A common reuse pattern is place + object, as in a named room followed by something in it.
地板
地板 means “floor” here, the surface where the juice spilled. In 厨房地板上, it is specified as the kitchen floor and is followed by 上 to mark the surface. It can be reused as the object of cleaning or location descriptions.
上
上 means “on” here, marking the surface in 厨房地板上. It follows 地板 and shows where the juice spilled. A common reuse pattern is surface + 上 for something located or happening on a surface.
也
也 means “also” or “too” here, adding the small bucket to the items being taken. In 也把小桶拿上, it appears before the action phrase. A common reuse pattern is 也 + action or 也 + item + action.
把
把 marks 小桶 as the item being handled in 把小桶拿上. It places attention on what will be moved or affected by the action. A common reuse pattern is 把 + object + action; new example: 把书放在桌上.
小桶
小桶 means “small bucket” here, the container to take for rinsing the mop. In 把小桶拿上, 小 describes the size and 桶 names the container. It can be reused as the object after 把 or after an action such as 拿.
拿
拿 means “take” here, specifically take the bucket along in 拿上. It is followed by 上 to express taking the item with oneself. A common reuse pattern is 拿 + object when picking up or carrying something.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “so” here, introducing the intended result of taking the bucket. In 这样你可以冲洗拖把, it connects the action with the reason or benefit that follows. A common reuse pattern is 这样 + result or possibility.
你
你 means “you” here, referring to the person who will rinse the mop. In 这样你可以冲洗拖把, it comes before 可以 and the action. It commonly appears before the action that the listener can or should perform.
冲洗
冲洗 means “rinse” or “wash off” here, referring to cleaning the mop with water. In 冲洗拖把, it comes before the object being rinsed. A common reuse pattern is 冲洗 + object.
拖把
拖把 means “mop” here, the cleaning tool to be rinsed. In 冲洗拖把, it follows the action 冲洗 as its object. It can be reused after verbs describing how the mop is used or cleaned.
这
这 means “this” here, referring to the help just received. In 这很有帮助, it comes before the description 很有帮助. A common reuse pattern is 这 + description when commenting on something nearby or just mentioned.
很
很 means “very” or “quite” here and links 这 with the description 有帮助 in 这很有帮助. It makes the description sound natural before an adjective-like phrase. A common reuse pattern is 很 + description.
帮助
帮助 means “help” or “be helpful” here, describing the usefulness of the other person’s assistance in 这很有帮助. It follows 很 and describes how useful something is. A common reuse pattern is 对某人有帮助, meaning that something is helpful to someone.
完
完 means “finish” or “be done” here in 用完后, referring to finishing using the borrowed items. It follows 用 and combines with 后 to form an “after finishing use” time phrase. A common reuse pattern is verb + 完 when an action has been completed.
后
后 means “after” here in 用完后, placing the return after the use is finished. It follows the completed action 用完. A common reuse pattern is completed action + 后 to state what happens afterward.
会
会 means “will” here, expressing the speaker’s intention to return the items. In 会把两样东西都拿回来, it comes before the action phrase. A common reuse pattern is 会 + action for a future plan or expected action.
两样
两样 means “both items” or “two things” here, referring to the bucket and mop. In 把两样东西都拿回来, it identifies the two items before 东西 and 都. It can be reused when referring to two different items together.
都
都 means “both” here, showing that the two items will both be brought back. In 两样东西都拿回来, it comes before the action that applies to all the items. A common reuse pattern is items + 都 + action.
回来
回来 means “bring back” in 把两样东西都拿回来, referring to returning the borrowed items to the owner. It follows 拿 and completes the direction of the action. A common reuse pattern is 拿 + object + 回来 when bringing an item back.
等
等 means “wait until” here, introducing the condition in 等一切都干了以后. It tells the listener to wait for the drying situation before putting the items down. A common reuse pattern is 等 + situation + action.
一切
一切 means “everything” here, referring broadly to all the wet items or conditions involved. In 一切都干了以后, it is followed by 都 and the condition 干了. A common reuse pattern is 一切都 + description or action.
干
干 means “dry” here, describing the condition of everything in 一切都干了以后. It appears before 了 to show that the drying has become complete before the next action. A common reuse pattern is something + 干了 when it has dried.
以后
以后 means “after” or “afterward” here, placing the instruction to leave the items after everything is dry. In 一切都干了以后, it follows the condition that must happen first. A common reuse pattern is condition or action + 以后.
它们
它们 means “they” or “them” for things here, referring especially to the bucket and mop that should be returned. In 把它们放在我门边, it is the object of 放. A common reuse pattern is 把它们 + action when handling several non-human objects.
放
放 means “put” or “place” here, referring to leaving the items beside the door. In 把它们放在我门边, it is followed by 在 and the destination. A common reuse pattern is 放在 + location.
门边
门边 means “beside the door” here, the place where the items should be left. In 放在我门边, it follows 在 and specifies the destination. It can be reused after 放在 to name a place next to a door.
谢谢
谢谢 means “thanks” or “thank you” here, expressing gratitude for help. In 谢谢你帮我收拾这一团糟, it comes at the beginning of the thanks and is followed by the person being thanked. A common reuse pattern is 谢谢你 + action or help.
帮
帮 means “help” here, describing assistance with cleaning up the mess in 帮我收拾这一团糟. It comes before the person receiving help and the action that is helped. A common reuse pattern is 帮 + person + action.
收拾
收拾 means “clean up” or “tidy up” here, referring to dealing with the spilled juice and the resulting mess. In 帮我收拾这一团糟, it comes before the mess being cleaned up. A common reuse pattern is 收拾 + place or mess.
一团糟
一团糟 means “a complete mess” as a whole, describing the messy situation caused by the spill. In this expression, 一 contributes “one,” 团 groups the situation as a mass, and 糟 describes its bad or messy state. It is useful when describing a place or situation that is very disorganized; new example: 房间里一团糟.
之后
之后 means “afterward” here, referring to the time after the floor has been cleaned. In 之后一定要确保地板不滑, it appears at the beginning and sets the time for the instruction. A common reuse pattern is 之后 + action.
一定
一定 adds strong emphasis to the instruction in 一定要确保地板不滑, meaning “be sure to” or “must.” It comes before 要 and makes the requirement firm. A common reuse pattern is 一定要 + action.
要
要 means “need to” or “should” here, forming the requirement 一定要确保地板不滑. It comes before the action the listener is expected to perform. A common reuse pattern is 要 + action when giving advice or an instruction.
确保
确保 means “make sure” or “ensure” here, asking the listener to verify the condition of the floor. In 一定要确保地板不滑, it is followed by the condition that must be true. A common reuse pattern is 确保 + result or condition.
不
不 negates 滑 in 地板不滑, meaning that the floor is not slippery. It comes directly before the condition it negates. A common reuse pattern is 不 + description or action.
滑
滑 means “slippery” here, describing the floor’s safety condition in 地板不滑. With 不 before it, the phrase says that the floor must not be slippery. It can be reused after a surface noun when describing whether that surface is slippery.
Grammar Points
动词＋完
用完清洁喷剂之后
yòng wán qīngjié pēnjì zhīhòuafter finishing using the cleaning spray
“完”放在动词后表示动作完成；“之后”表示在这个动作以后。
确保＋名词＋形容词
确保地板干
quèbǎo dìbǎn gānmake sure the floor is dry
“确保”后面可直接接名词和形容词，表示确认某种状态成立。
Chinese Vocabulary
厨房
noun
chúfáng
kitchen
地板
noun
dìbǎn
floor
东西
noun
dōngxi
thing; something
果汁
noun
guǒzhī
juice
拿上
verb
ná shàng
to take along
清洁喷剂
noun
qīngjié pēnjì
cleaning spray
洒
verb
sǎ
to spill
水槽
noun
shuǐcáo
sink
下面
prep
xiàmiàn
under; below
小桶
noun
xiǎotǒng
small bucket
一点
num
yìdiǎn
a little; some
用
verb
yòng
to use
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
cleaning spray
Show Answer
清洁喷剂sink
Show Answer
水槽to take along
Show Answer
拿上floor