About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a Bicycle Pump to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我的后轮胎快没气了。
Wǒ de hòu lúntāi kuài méi qì le. My back tire is almost flat.
B
我有一个打气筒，你可以借用。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge dǎqìtǒng, nǐ kěyǐ jièyòng. I have a pump you can borrow.
A
我应该先检查漏气吗？
Wǒ yīnggāi xiān jiǎnchá lòuqì ma? Should I check for a leak first?
B
加气前，沿着轮胎侧壁看看。
Jiā qì qián, yánzhe lúntāi cèbì kànkan. Look along the sidewall before adding air.
A
你能教我怎么把它接上吗？
Nǐ néng jiāo wǒ zěnme bǎ tā jiēshàng ma? Can you show me how to attach it?
B
把这个部分按到气门嘴上，然后慢慢打气。
Bǎ zhège bùfen àn dào qìménzuǐ shàng, ránhòu mànmàn dǎqì. Press this part onto the valve and pump slowly.
A
现在轮胎感觉够硬了。
Xiànzài lúntāi gǎnjué gòu yìng le. The tire feels firm enough now.
B
用完后把打气筒还回来。
Yòng wán hòu bǎ dǎqìtǒng huán huílái. Bring the pump back when you finish.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me”; here it is the person whose tire is being described in “我的后轮胎”. It commonly comes before 的 to show possession, as in “我的书” in a new example. You use it when talking about yourself.
的
的 links 我 to 后轮胎 and shows that the tire belongs to or is associated with the speaker: “我的后轮胎”. A common reusable pattern is “我的 + noun”, such as “我的车” in a new example. Use it when identifying something connected with yourself.
后
后 means “back” or “rear” in “后轮胎”, identifying the tire at the back of the bicycle. Here it comes before 轮胎 to specify which tire. You can use the same position before another noun when describing something at the rear.
轮胎
轮胎 means “tire” in “后轮胎”. It names the rubber part of the bicycle that contains air and touches the ground. You use it when discussing a tire’s condition, air, or repair.
快
快 means “almost” in “快没气了”, showing that the tire is close to having no air. It comes before the following change or condition to indicate that it is approaching. A reusable pattern is “快 + verb or state”, as in “快到了” in a new example.
没
没 means “not have” or “be without” in “没气”, so the tire has no air. It comes before 气 to form the expression “没气”. You use 没 before something that is absent or not possessed.
气
气 means “air” in “没气”, referring to the air inside the tire. Together with 没, it describes the tire as having no air rather than naming an action. In this scene, it is used when talking about inflation or a flat tire.
了
了 in “快没气了” marks the current change of state: the tire is now nearly out of air. It appears at the end of the sentence after the condition being described. You use this position when reporting that a situation has changed or reached a new state.
有
有 means “have” in “我有一个打气筒”, telling the listener that the speaker possesses a pump available for use. It is followed here by the thing possessed, “一个打气筒”. A common pattern is “我有 + noun”, as in “我有时间” in a new example.
一
一 means “one” in “一个打气筒”, indicating one pump. It appears before the measure word 个 rather than directly before the noun. You use the pattern “一 + measure word + noun” when counting one item.
个
个 is the general measure word in “一个打气筒”. It is placed between 一 and 打气筒 to count the item. A reusable pattern is “number + 个 + noun”, as in “两个问题” in a new example.
打气筒
打气筒 means “bicycle pump”, the tool offered in “我有一个打气筒”. The word names the object used to add air to the tire. You use it when asking for, borrowing, or returning this tool.
你
你 means “you” in “你可以借用”, referring to the person who may use the pump. It comes before the modal 可以 and the action 借用. You use it when addressing one person directly.
可以
可以 means “can” or “be allowed to” in “你可以借用”, giving permission to borrow the pump. It comes before the action that is permitted. A common pattern is “可以 + verb”, as in “可以进去” in a new example.
借用
借用 means “borrow and use temporarily” in “你可以借用”, with the pump understood from the preceding sentence. It describes temporary use of something that belongs to or is provided by someone else. You use it when requesting or granting temporary use of an object.
应该
应该 means “should” in “我应该先检查漏气吗？”, asking whether checking for a leak is the appropriate next action. It comes before the action being considered. A common pattern is “应该 + verb”, used when asking for or giving advice.
先
先 means “first” in “先检查漏气”, marking the action that should happen before the later inflation step. It usually comes before the verb it orders. You use it to organize actions in sequence.
检查
检查 means “check” or “inspect” in “检查漏气”, referring to looking for an air leak. It comes before the thing or problem being checked. You use it when examining equipment, a condition, or a possible problem.
漏气
漏气 means “leak air” or “have an air leak” in “检查漏气”, the problem being checked on the tire. Here it follows 检查 as the condition being looked for. You use it when discussing air escaping from a tire or another object.
吗
吗 turns “我应该先检查漏气” into the yes-no question “我应该先检查漏气吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question. You use it when asking whether a statement or proposed action is correct.
加气
加气 means “add air” or “inflate” in “加气前”, referring to putting more air into the tire. It is followed by 前 to mark the action that has not yet happened. You use it when talking about inflating a tire or adding air to something.
前
前 means “before” in “加气前”, placing the inspection before the action of adding air. It follows the action phrase and forms a time expression. A reusable pattern is “verb + 前”, as in “出门前” in a new example.
沿着
沿着 means “along” in “沿着轮胎侧壁看看”, directing the listener’s attention along the length or surface of the tire sidewall. It comes before the route or surface being followed. You use it when looking, walking, or moving along something.
侧壁
侧壁 means “sidewall” in “轮胎侧壁”, naming the side surface of the tire. It follows 轮胎 to specify which part is being checked. You use it when inspecting the side of a tire for a problem.
看看
看看 means “take a look” or “look briefly” in “沿着轮胎侧壁看看”. The repeated form makes the instruction sound like taking a look rather than describing prolonged looking. You use it after a place or object when inviting someone to inspect it briefly.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” in “你能教我怎么把它接上吗？”, asking whether the listener is able to show the procedure. It comes before the action 教. A common pattern is “能 + verb + 吗？” when asking if someone can do something.
教
教 means “teach” or “show someone how” in “教我怎么把它接上”. It is followed by the person receiving the instruction, 我, and then the procedure. You use it when asking someone to teach you how to perform an action.
怎么
怎么 means “how” in “怎么把它接上”, introducing the method for attaching the pump part. It comes before the action phrase that explains the procedure. A reusable pattern is “怎么 + verb”, as in “怎么打开” in a new example.
把
把 marks 它 as the object being acted on in “把它接上”, placing the object before the action and its result. The pattern highlights what happens to that object. You use “把 + object + verb” when describing how an action handles or changes a specific thing.
它
它 means “it” in “把它接上”, referring to the pump part understood from the context. It is the object placed after 把 and before the action. You use it when referring back to a non-person object already mentioned or understood.
接
接 means “attach” or “connect” in “接上”, describing the action of connecting the pump part. In this dialogue, 上 completes the expression by showing that the connection is made onto something. You use 接 with an object when joining or attaching one thing to another.
上
上 in “接上” shows that the attachment reaches the intended connected position, while “接” names the connecting action. Together, “接上” means “attach” or “connect”. You use it after an action when the result is that something becomes attached or connected.
这
这 means “this” in “这个部分”, identifying the part that is near the speaker or being pointed out. It comes before 个 and the noun 部分. A common pattern is “这 + measure word + noun”, as in “这本书” in a new example.
部分
部分 means “part” in “这个部分”, referring to a particular piece of the pump. It follows the demonstrative phrase 这个. You use it when identifying one section or component of an object.
按
按 means “press” in “按到气门嘴上”, describing the action applied to the pump part. It is followed by 到 and the destination, showing where the pressing action brings the part. You use it for pressing a button, surface, or component into position.
到
到 in “按到气门嘴上” marks the destination reached by the pressing action: the part is pressed onto the valve stem. It connects the action 按 with the destination phrase. You use “verb + 到 + place or target” when showing where an action reaches.
气门嘴
气门嘴 means “valve stem” in “按到气门嘴上”, the small tire component onto which the pump part is pressed. It identifies the specific target of the attachment. You use it when checking, connecting, or inflating a tire.
然后
然后 means “then” in “然后慢慢打气”, introducing the next action after pressing the part onto the valve stem. It helps organize the two instructions in order. You use it to connect one completed step with the following step.
慢慢
慢慢 means “slowly” in “慢慢打气”, telling the listener to inflate at a slow pace. The repeated form functions as an adverb before 打气. You use it before an action when giving an instruction about doing that action slowly.
打气
打气 means “pump air” or “inflate” in “慢慢打气”, referring to putting air into the tire with the pump. It follows the manner word 慢慢. You use it when telling someone to inflate a tire or another air-filled object.
现在
现在 means “now” in “现在轮胎感觉够硬了”, locating the tire’s current condition after pumping. It appears at the beginning of the sentence to set the time. You use it when describing a situation at the present moment.
感觉
感觉 means “feel” or “seem” in “轮胎感觉够硬了”, describing how the tire seems when assessed. It comes after the subject and before the condition 够硬. You use it when reporting an impression based on touch or general perception.
够
够 means “enough” in “够硬了”, showing that the tire has reached a sufficient level of firmness. It comes before the adjective 硬 and combines with it to describe adequacy. A common pattern is “够 + adjective”, as in “够大” in a new example.
硬
硬 means “firm” or “hard” in “够硬了”, describing the tire’s physical condition after air has been added. Here it follows 够 to express that the firmness is sufficient. You use it when describing whether a surface or object has become firm.
用
用 means “use” in “用完后”, referring to using the pump. It combines with 完 to show that the use has finished before the next action. You use it before an object to describe using that object.
完
完 in “用完后” shows that the action of using the pump has been completed. It follows 用 and comes before 后, forming a time expression meaning “after finishing using it”. You use “verb + 完” when an action has been fully completed.
还
还 means “return” in “还回来”, telling the listener to give the pump back. Here it is part of the expression for returning an object, not the meaning “still”. You use it with an object when instructing someone to return something after use.
回来
回来 means “come back” or “return here” in “把打气筒还回来”, indicating that the pump should be brought back to the shared place or speaker. It follows 还 and completes the return direction. You use it when something or someone moves back toward the speaker or the relevant place.
Grammar Points
V+完+后
用完后还回来。
Yòng wán hòu huán huílái.Return it after using it.
完 marks the action as finished, and 后 means “after”; together they mean “after finishing using it.”
够+形容词
感觉够硬。
Gǎnjué gòu yìng.It feels firm enough.
够 comes before an adjective to express that something reaches the needed degree: “adjective enough.”
Chinese Vocabulary
按到
verb
àn dào
to press onto
把这个部分按到气门嘴上,然后慢慢打气。
部分
noun
bùfen
part
把这个部分按到气门嘴上,然后慢慢打气。
侧壁
noun
cèbì
sidewall
加气前,沿着轮胎侧壁看看。
打气筒
noun
dǎqìtǒng
bicycle pump
我有一个打气筒,你可以借用。
后轮胎
noun
hòu lúntāi
back tire
我的后轮胎快没气了。
加气
verb
jiāqì
to add air; to inflate
加气前,沿着轮胎侧壁看看。
检查
verb
jiǎnchá
to check; to inspect
我应该先检查漏气吗?
接上
verb
jiēshàng
to attach; to connect
你能教我怎么把它接上吗?
借用
verb
jièyòng
to borrow; to use temporarily
我有一个打气筒,你可以借用。
漏气
phrase
lòuqì
air leak; to leak air
我应该先检查漏气吗?
没气
adj
méi qì
flat; out of air
我的后轮胎快没气了。
沿着
prep
yánzhe
along
加气前,沿着轮胎侧壁看看。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to add air; to inflate
Show Answer
加气to attach; to connect
Show Answer
接上air leak; to leak air
Show Answer
漏气along