About This Lesson
Use Asking for a place to wait after being locked out to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我被锁在公寓门外了。
wǒ bèi suǒ zài gōngyù ménwài le I am locked out of my apartment.
B
你有备用钥匙吗？
nǐ yǒu bèiyòng yàoshi ma Do you have a spare key somewhere?
A
我没有，但我的房东可能有一把。
wǒ méiyǒu, dàn wǒ de fángdōng kěnéng yǒu yì bǎ I do not, but my landlord may have one.
B
现在试着给房东打电话吧。
xiànzài shìzhe gěi fángdōng dǎ diànhuà ba Try calling them now.
A
我打电话的时候，可以在里面等吗？
wǒ dǎ diànhuà de shíhou, kěyǐ zài lǐmiàn děng ma Could I wait inside while I make the call?
B
进来待一会儿吧。
jìnlái dāi yí huìr ba Come in for a while.
B
外面很冷。
wàimiàn hěn lěng It is cold out there.
A
我会解释发生了什么，然后问问钥匙的事。
wǒ huì jiěshì fāshēng le shénme, ránhòu wènwen yàoshi de shì I will explain what happened and ask about the key.
B
你等的时候，如果需要什么就告诉我。
nǐ děng de shíhou, rúguǒ xūyào shénme jiù gàosu wǒ Tell me if you need anything while you wait.Word by Word
我
我 means “I” or “me” and refers to the speaker in “我被锁在公寓门外了” and the other first-person lines. It commonly comes before the action or situation being described, as in “我会解释发生了什么”。
被
被 marks that the speaker is affected by the locking in “我被锁在公寓门外了”。 It introduces a passive-style construction in which “我” experiences the result of “锁”. Use it before the affected person in similar descriptions of an unwanted action.
锁
锁 means “lock” in the situation “我被锁在公寓门外了”, describing being unable to enter because the door is locked. Here it appears after “被” to describe what happened to the speaker. A reusable pattern is 被 + person or thing + 锁在 + place.
在
在 places the speaker in “公寓门外” in “我被锁在公寓门外了”。 It connects the locking situation with the location where the speaker is stuck. It commonly appears before a place, as in 在里面等.
公寓
公寓 means “apartment” in “我被锁在公寓门外了”。 It identifies the home whose door the speaker cannot enter. It can be used before location words such as “公寓门外” to specify the relevant place.
门外
门外 means “outside the door” in “我被锁在公寓门外了”。 It specifies that the speaker is on the outside of the apartment entrance. Use it after a location verb or construction when describing someone’s position outside a door.
了
了 marks the changed situation in “我被锁在公寓门外了”: the speaker is now locked outside. It is placed at the end of this statement to show that the situation has come about. It can be used at the end of a sentence when reporting a new situation.
你
你 means “you” and refers to the person being asked in “你有备用钥匙吗？”。 It commonly comes before the verb or situation being asked about. Use it to address one person directly.
有
有 means “have” in “你有备用钥匙吗？”, asking whether the other person possesses a spare key. It is followed here by the thing possessed, “备用钥匙”。 A reusable pattern is 你有 + object + 吗？
备用
备用 means “spare” or “for backup use” in “备用钥匙”。 It describes a key kept for use when the usual key is unavailable. It commonly comes before the object it describes, as in 备用钥匙.
钥匙
钥匙 means “key” in “备用钥匙” and “问问钥匙的事”。 In the dialogue it refers to a key that might allow the speaker to enter the apartment. It can follow a describing word such as “备用” or be discussed as a matter with “钥匙的事”。
吗
吗 marks the yes-or-no question “你有备用钥匙吗？”。 It is placed at the end of the question rather than changing the word order. Use it after a statement when asking whether it is true.
没有
没有 means “not have” in “我没有”, answering that the speaker does not have a spare key. It directly gives a negative answer to the question with “有”。 It can stand on its own as a reply when the object is already understood.
但
但 means “but” and contrasts “我没有” with “我的房东可能有一把”。 It connects the speaker’s lack of a key with the possibility that the landlord has one. Use it between two contrasting statements.
我的
我的 means “my” in “我的房东可能有一把”。 It identifies the landlord as belonging to or being connected with the speaker. It comes before the person or thing being described, as in 我的房东.
房东
房东 means “landlord” in “我的房东可能有一把”。 It refers to the person responsible for the rented apartment and possibly holding a spare key. It can follow a possessive such as “我的” and can be the recipient after “给”, as in 给房东打电话.
可能
可能 means “may” or “possibly” in “我的房东可能有一把”, showing that the speaker is not certain. It comes before the possibility or action being described. Use it before a verb phrase when expressing a possible situation.
把
把 is the classifier used in “一把” for the key in “我的房东可能有一把”。 It counts the key as an object of this type, while “一” gives the number one. The reusable pattern here is 有一把 + object, when referring to one such item.
现在
现在 means “now” in “现在试着给房东打电话吧”。 It tells the listener that the call should be attempted at the present time. It commonly comes before the action, as in 现在 + verb phrase.
试着
试着 means “try to” in “现在试着给房东打电话吧”。 It presents calling the landlord as an action to attempt. It comes before the action being tried, here 给房东打电话.
给
给 means “to” in “给房东打电话”, marking the person the call is made to. It comes before the recipient, followed by the action “打电话”。 Use the pattern 给 + person + 打电话 when calling someone.
打电话
打电话 means “make a phone call” in “给房东打电话”。 The whole expression describes calling someone; “打” contributes the action used with “电话”, which means “telephone” or “phone call”. The reusable pattern is 给 + person + 打电话, as in the new example 给朋友打电话.
吧
吧 softens the suggestion “现在试着给房东打电话吧”, making it an encouraging proposal rather than a forceful command. It appears at the end of the sentence. It can be used after a suggested action when speaking helpfully to someone.
的
的 links the time expression “我打电话的时候” to the situation of waiting. It helps form the expression meaning “when I make the call”. A reusable pattern is verb phrase + 的时候, as in the new example 吃饭的时候.
时候
时候 means “time” or “when” in “我打电话的时候”。 Together with the preceding action, it identifies the time when the waiting takes place. Use the pattern action + 的时候 to say “when” an action happens.
可以
可以 means “can” or “may” in “可以在里面等吗？”, asking for permission to wait inside. It comes before the action or place-related action being requested. The reusable question pattern is 可以 + action + 吗？
里面
里面 means “inside” in “可以在里面等吗？”。 It identifies the indoor place where the speaker wants to wait. It commonly follows “在” when describing being or doing something inside.
等
等 means “wait” in “可以在里面等吗？”。 It describes staying until the phone call or next event is dealt with. It can follow a place phrase, as in 在里面等.
进来
进来 means “come in” in “进来待一会儿吧”。 It invites the other person to move into the speaker’s present location. It is used here as a softened invitation with “吧”; a reusable pattern is 进来 + action, as in 进来坐坐.
待
待 means “stay” in “进来待一会儿吧”。 It describes remaining inside for a short period after coming in. It can be followed by a duration expression, as in 待一会儿.
一会儿
一会儿 means “for a while” in “进来待一会儿吧”。 The whole expression gives a short, unspecified length of time; “一” means “one” and “会儿” refers to a short period. It commonly follows an action such as 待一会儿 or 等一会儿.
外面
外面 means “outside” in “外面很冷”。 It refers to the outdoor area where the person is currently waiting. It can be used as the location of a condition, as in 外面很冷.
很
很 adds degree in “外面很冷”, meaning that it is quite or very cold outside. It comes before the description “冷”。 A reusable pattern is place or subject + 很 + description, as in the new example 房间很安静.
冷
冷 means “cold” in “外面很冷”。 It describes the outdoor temperature and explains why coming inside is helpful. It commonly follows a degree word such as 很 in a statement about the weather or a place.
会
会 means “will” in “我会解释发生了什么”, showing the speaker’s intention to explain. It comes before the action “解释发生了什么”。 Use 会 + action when stating what someone will do.
解释
解释 means “explain” in “我会解释发生了什么”。 It introduces the speaker’s plan to make the situation clear. It can be followed by the matter being explained, here “发生了什么”。
发生
发生 means “happen” in “发生了什么”, asking or referring to what took place. It is part of the object of “解释”, so the speaker will explain what happened. It commonly appears with “什么” when asking about an event.
什么
什么 means “what” in “发生了什么”, referring to the event that took place. It also means “anything” in “需要什么”, referring to any thing the waiting person might need. Its meaning depends on the surrounding construction.
然后
然后 means “then” or “after that” in “然后问问钥匙的事”。 It places asking about the key after explaining what happened. It commonly connects two actions in sequence: first one action, 然后 another action.
问问
问问 means “ask about” or “check about” in “问问钥匙的事”。 It describes asking the landlord about the key matter after explaining the situation. It is followed here by the topic “钥匙的事”, so keep that topic after 问问 in the reusable pattern 问问 + matter.
事
事 means “matter” or “issue” in “钥匙的事”。 It refers broadly to the matter concerning the key rather than naming a separate object. It can follow a noun to form a topic, as in 钥匙的事.
如果
如果 means “if” in “如果需要什么就告诉我”, introducing the condition that the person needs something. It is paired here with “就” to connect the condition and the result. A reusable pattern is 如果 + condition + 就 + result.
需要
需要 means “need” in “如果需要什么”, referring to needing something while waiting. It comes before the unspecified object “什么”。 Use 需要 + object when saying that someone needs a thing or help.
就
就 means “then” or “in that case” in “如果需要什么就告诉我”。 It introduces the result that should follow the condition. The reusable pattern is 如果需要什么就 + action, as in the dialogue.
告诉
告诉 means “tell” in “就告诉我”, asking the listener to tell the speaker if help is needed. The person receiving the information follows the verb as “告诉我”。 A reusable pattern is 告诉 + person + information or request.
Grammar Points
如果……，……
如果外面冷，进来。
rúguǒ wàimiàn lěng, jìnláiIf it is cold outside, come in.
“如果”引导条件，后面接结果或建议。中文常省略主语。
动词重叠：问问
问问房东。
wènwen fángdōngAsk the landlord.
动词重叠使语气更轻松、委婉，表示试着问一下。
Chinese Vocabulary
备用钥匙
noun
bèiyòng yàoshi
spare key
你有备用钥匙吗?
被锁在门外
phrase
bèi suǒ zài mén wài
be locked out
我被锁在公寓门外了。
打电话
verb
dǎ diànhuà
make a phone call; call
我打电话的时候,可以在里面等吗?
等
verb
děng
wait
可以在里面等吗?
房东
noun
fángdōng
landlord
我的房东可能有一把。
公寓
noun
gōngyù
apartment
我被锁在公寓门外了。
进来
verb
jìnlái
come in
进来待一会儿吧。
可能
adv
kěnéng
may; might
我的房东可能有一把。
里面
noun
lǐmiàn
inside
可以在里面等吗?
试着
verb
shìzhe
try to
现在试着给房东打电话吧。
现在
adv
xiànzài
now
现在试着给房东打电话吧。
钥匙
noun
yàoshi
key
我会解释发生了什么,然后问问钥匙的事。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
spare key
Show Answer
备用钥匙be locked out
Show Answer
被锁在门外apartment
Show Answer
公寓key