Cleaning Up a Coffee Spill | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Cleaning Up a Coffee Spill to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我把咖啡洒在这些文件上了。

wǒ bǎ kāfēi sǎ zài zhèxiē wénjiàn shàng le I spilled coffee on these documents.

在污渍扩散前，把文件移到离杯子远一点的地方。

zài wūzì kuòsàn qián, bǎ wénjiàn yí dào lí bēizi yuǎn yìdiǎn de dìfang Move them away from the cup before the stain spreads.

最上面那一页已经湿透了。

zuì shàngmiàn nà yí yè yǐjīng shītòu le The top page is already soaked.

你拿它之前，先让它平放着晾干。

nǐ ná tā zhīqián, xiān ràng tā píngfàng zhe liànggān Let it dry flat before you handle it.

我应该把那一页重新打印一份吗？

wǒ yīnggāi bǎ nà yí yè chóngxīn dǎyìn yí fèn ma Should I print a clean copy of that page?

那样更保险，因为字可能会变模糊。

nàyàng gèng bǎoxiǎn, yīnwèi zì kěnéng huì biàn móhu That would be safer because the text may blur.

我会把干的页面分开，同时让这一页晾干。

wǒ huì bǎ gān de yèmiàn fēnkāi, tóngshí ràng zhè yí yè liànggān I will separate the dry pages while this one dries.

下次把饮料放在另一张桌子上。

xiàcì bǎ yǐnliào fàng zài lìng yì zhāng zhuōzi shàng Keep the drinks on another table next time.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” and refers to the speaker in “我把咖啡洒在这些文件上了”。 It is used as the subject or agent of an action, such as when describing what you did. Use it whenever you refer to yourself in Chinese.

把 “把” marks “咖啡” as the object affected by the action in “我把咖啡洒在这些文件上了”。 It is used before an object when the sentence focuses on what happens to that object. A common pattern is 把 + object + action result or location.

咖啡 “咖啡” means coffee, the drink that was spilled in “我把咖啡洒在这些文件上了”。 It is the object placed after “把” in this sentence. Use it as a noun for coffee in everyday situations.

洒 “洒” means spill or sprinkle, and here it describes coffee being spilled in “我把咖啡洒在这些文件上了”。 With “把”, it shows what happened to the coffee and where it landed. It can be reused for describing liquid accidentally spreading onto a surface.

在 “在” introduces the place or surface affected by the spilling in “洒在这些文件上”。 Here it means onto or on, rather than simply being located somewhere. It commonly appears before a location or surface after an action verb.

这些 “这些” means these and points to several documents in “这些文件”。 It identifies items that are close to the speaker or already clear in the situation. It is used before a noun to specify nearby plural things.

文件 “文件” means documents or files, referring to the papers affected by the coffee in “这些文件”。 It is the noun modified by “这些”. Use it for documents or files in work and study contexts.

上 “上” means on the upper surface in “文件上”。 Together with “在”, it indicates that the coffee landed on the documents. It is commonly placed after a noun to express a surface, as in “桌子上” for on the table.

了 The “了” in “洒在这些文件上了” marks the completed spill and the resulting changed situation. It shows that the action has happened, rather than describing a general possibility. It commonly follows the verb or the completed phrase when a new situation is being reported.

污渍 “污渍” means stain, referring to the mark that may spread in “污渍扩散”。 It is the subject of the spreading action here. Use it for a visible dirty mark on paper, clothing, furniture, or another surface.

扩散 “扩散” means spread or expand outward, describing what the stain may do in “污渍扩散”。 It focuses on the stain becoming wider rather than simply moving. It can be used for stains, smells, smoke, or other things that spread.

前 “前” means before in “扩散前”。 It places the action of moving the documents earlier than the stain spreading. It commonly follows an action or event to form a before-time expression.

移 “移” means move, as in moving the documents away from the cup in “把文件移到离杯子远一点的地方”。 It describes changing the position of an object. A useful pattern is 移到 + destination, where the destination follows “到”.

到 “到” introduces the destination in “移到离杯子远一点的地方”。 It shows where the documents should be moved. It commonly follows a movement verb and comes before the destination.

离 “离” means at a distance from or away from, as in “离杯子远一点”。 It establishes the cup as the reference point for the distance. It is commonly used in the pattern 离 + reference place + distance or description.

杯子 “杯子” means cup, the object from which the documents should be moved in “离杯子远一点”。 It serves as the reference point for the distance. Use it as a noun for a cup in everyday descriptions of drinks and objects.

远 “远” means far in “离杯子远一点”。 Here it describes the documents being placed farther away from the cup. It can be used after “离” to describe distance from a reference point.

一点 “一点” means a little or a bit in “远一点”。 It softens the amount of distance and means that the documents should be moved somewhat farther away. It commonly follows a quality or description when asking for a small degree of change.

的 “的” links the preceding description “离杯子远一点” to the noun “地方” in “离杯子远一点的地方”。 It turns the description into information about which place is meant. It commonly appears between a modifier and the noun it describes.

地方 “地方” means place or location in “离杯子远一点的地方”。 It is the destination of the movement. Use it after a description when referring to a place with a particular quality or position.

最 “最” marks the highest degree in “最上面”。 It makes “上面” mean the topmost part rather than simply an upper part. It commonly comes before a descriptive word when selecting the highest degree.

上面 “上面” means the upper part or top, referring to the top of the stack in “最上面那一页”。 It identifies the position of the page. It can be used after a noun to describe the upper surface or part of something.

那 “那” means that and points to the page already understood in “那一页”。 It identifies a particular page rather than any page. It commonly appears before a measure word and noun when referring to something at a distance or previously mentioned.

页 “页” means page and is the measure word used with “那一” in “那一页”。 It identifies one page of the documents. It can be used with a number or demonstrative before a page noun.

已经 “已经” means already in “已经湿透了”。 It shows that the page reached this condition before the speaker says it. It commonly appears before the verb or describing phrase to indicate an earlier completed change.

湿透 “湿透” means soaked through, describing the top page in “已经湿透了”。 The form combines being wet with the result of becoming completely wet. It can be used when water or another liquid has penetrated an object fully.

你 “你” means you and refers to the person who might handle the page in “你拿它之前”。 It identifies the listener as the person whose action is being discussed. Use it when speaking directly to one person.

拿 “拿” means take or handle in “你拿它之前”。 Here it refers to handling the wet page. It can be used for taking hold of or carrying an object, especially when the object is specified afterward.

它 “它” means it and refers here to the wet page in “你拿它之前”。 It avoids repeating the page after it has already been identified. It is used as an object pronoun for a non-human thing.

之前 “之前” means before that time or beforehand in “你拿它之前”。 It places the drying action before the later act of handling the page. It commonly follows an action or event to form a before-time phrase.

先 “先” means first or beforehand in “先让它平放着晾干”。 It tells the listener which action should happen before the next one. It commonly appears before the first action in a sequence of instructions.

让 “让” means let or allow in “让它平放着晾干”。 It introduces the page as the thing that should be allowed to dry. It commonly follows “让” with a person or object and the action or state that follows.

平放 “平放” means lay or keep something flat in “让它平放着晾干”。 It describes the position required while the page dries. It can be reused when giving instructions about placing a flat object without folding it.

着 “着” marks the continuing state in “平放着”。 It shows that the page remains lying flat during the drying process. It commonly follows an action or position verb when that state continues.

晾干 “晾干” means air-dry, describing how the page should become dry in “让它平放着晾干”。 It refers to drying by leaving something exposed to air. It can be used for clothes, paper, or other items that are left to dry.

应该 “应该” means should or ought to in “我应该把那一页重新打印一份吗”。 It presents the speaker’s question about the advisable action. It commonly comes before the action that is being considered or recommended.

重新 “重新” means again or anew in “重新打印”。 It shows that the page will be printed another time because the first one is damaged. It commonly comes before an action that is repeated from the beginning.

打印 “打印” means print in “打印一份”。 It describes producing a paper copy of the page. It commonly comes before a measure phrase such as “一份” when specifying a copy.

份 “份” is the measure word for a copy or individual document in “打印一份”。 It counts the clean copy being printed. It commonly follows a number or “一” before a document, copy, or portion.

吗 “吗” is a question particle at the end of “我应该把那一页重新打印一份吗”。 It turns the statement into a yes-or-no question about whether printing is advisable. It is placed at the end of a question rather than before the action.

那样 “那样” means that way or like that in “那样更保险”。 It refers to the proposed action of printing a clean copy. It commonly points back to an action or method just mentioned.

更 “更” means more or even more in “更保险”。 It compares the suggested option with the current situation and presents it as safer. It commonly comes before a describing word when expressing a higher degree.

保险 “保险” means safer or more secure in “那样更保险”。 Here it describes the option of printing a clean copy as reducing the risk of losing unclear text. It can be used when recommending an option that provides more protection or certainty.

因为 “因为” means because and introduces the reason in “因为字可能会变模糊”。 It connects the recommendation to the possible problem with the text. It commonly comes before a clause that explains why something is the case.

字 “字” means written characters or text in “字可能会变模糊”。 It refers to the writing on the page that may become unclear. Use it when talking about written characters or text on paper or a screen.

可能 “可能” means possibly or may in “可能会变模糊”。 It shows that the text becoming unclear is a possibility, not a certainty. It commonly comes before the action or change that might happen.

会 “会” means will or be likely to in “会变模糊”。 Together with “可能”, it contributes to the idea that the text may become blurred. It commonly comes before a verb to describe a likely future change or result.

变 “变” means become or change into in “变模糊”。 It introduces a change from clear text to an unclear state. It commonly comes before a describing word to express becoming that way.

模糊 “模糊” means blurred or unclear in “变模糊”。 It describes the possible condition of the written text after the page is damaged. It can be used for writing, images, or other things that are difficult to see clearly.

干 “干” means dry in “干的页面”。 It identifies the pages that are not wet and can be separated. It commonly appears before “的” to describe a noun, as in “干的页面”.

页面 “页面” means page, referring to the dry pages in “干的页面”。 It is a noun modified by “干的”. Use it for a page or screen page, especially when discussing documents or displayed content.

分开 “分开” means separate or keep apart in “把干的页面分开”。 It describes separating the dry pages from one another or from the wet page. It commonly follows “把” when the object is the thing being separated.

同时 “同时” means at the same time in “同时让这一页晾干”。 It shows that separating the dry pages happens while the wet page is drying. It commonly introduces a second action that occurs during the first action.

这 “这” means this and points to the wet page in “这一页”。 It identifies the page that is present or immediately understood. It commonly appears before a number or measure word and noun.

下次 “下次” means next time in “下次把饮料放在另一张桌子上”。 It refers to a future occasion when the same situation may occur again. It commonly appears at the beginning of advice or an instruction about future behavior.

饮料 “饮料” means drinks or beverages in “把饮料放在另一张桌子上”。 It is the object that should be placed elsewhere. Use it as a general noun for drinks rather than one specific type of drink.

放 “放” means put or place in “把饮料放在另一张桌子上”。 It describes placing the drinks in a particular location. A common pattern is 把 + object + 放在 + location.

另 “另” contributes the meaning another or different in “另一张桌子”。 It distinguishes the recommended table from the current table. It is used before a measure word and noun when referring to a different item of the same kind.

张 “张” is the measure word for flat objects in “一张桌子”。 Here it counts the table named as the alternative location. It is commonly used with tables, sheets of paper, and other broad flat objects.

桌子 “桌子” means table in “另一张桌子上”。 It is the surface where the drinks should be placed next time. It commonly follows a measure word such as “张” when counting tables.

Grammar Points

重新 + 动词

重新打印

chóngxīn dǎyìn

print again

重新 comes before a verb to show that an action is done again or anew.

Chinese Vocabulary

杯子 noun

bēizi cup

打印 verb

dǎyìn print

咖啡 noun

kāfēi coffee

扩散 verb

kuòsàn spread

晾干 verb

liànggān air-dry

平放 verb

píngfàng lay flat

洒 verb

sǎ spill

湿透 adj

shītòu soaked

文件 noun

wénjiàn document

污渍 noun

wūzì stain

一页 phrase

yí yè one page

最上面 adj

zuì shàngmiàn topmost

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

document

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文件

spread

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扩散

air-dry

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晾干

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打印