Handling a Broken Umbrella | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Handling a Broken Umbrella to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我的雨伞被大风吹坏了。

Wǒ de yǔsǎn bèi dàfēng chuī huài le. My umbrella broke in the strong wind.

快到遮雨的地方来，别淋透了。

Kuài dào zhē yǔ de dìfang lái, bié líntòu le. Come under the shelter before you get soaked.

雨比看起来更大。

Yǔ bǐ kàn qǐlái gèng dà. The rain is heavier than it looked.

你可以借我的备用雨伞。

Nǐ kěyǐ jiè wǒ de bèiyòng yǔsǎn. You can borrow my extra umbrella.

你真的不用它吗？

Nǐ zhēn de bú yòng tā ma? Are you sure you don't need it?

我有雨衣，所以没问题。

Wǒ yǒu yǔyī, suǒyǐ méi wèntí. I have a raincoat, so I can manage.

我明天可以把它带回来。

Wǒ míngtiān kěyǐ bǎ tā dài huílái. I can bring it back tomorrow.

回家的路上，注意别淋湿了。

Huí jiā de lùshang, zhùyì bié línshī le. Just stay dry on your way home.

Word by Word

我 “我” means “I” or “me,” referring to the speaker in “我的雨伞” and “我明天可以”. It commonly appears before a verb or before 的 plus a noun.

的 In “我的雨伞” and “我的备用雨伞,” “的” links “我” to the thing belonging to or associated with the speaker. A common reuse pattern is “我的 + noun” for “my + noun.”

雨伞 “雨伞” means “umbrella,” the object that was damaged and later offered for borrowing. It can follow a possessive phrase, as in “我的雨伞” or “我的备用雨伞.”

被 “被” introduces the thing that caused an action affecting the subject in “我的雨伞被大风吹坏了”. It is commonly followed by the agent and the action, as in “被大风吹坏.”

大风 “大风” means “strong wind” in “被大风吹坏了”. It is used here as the cause of the umbrella’s damage and commonly appears before an action it causes.

吹坏 “吹坏” describes something being damaged or broken by blowing wind in “被大风吹坏了”. “吹” supplies the blowing action and “坏” shows the resulting damaged condition; it can follow a cause such as “大风.”

了 In “吹坏了” and “淋透了,” “了” presents the action as having reached a resulting state: the umbrella is broken or the person is soaked through. It commonly follows a verb or result expression when the new result matters.

快 “快” urges someone to act quickly in “快到遮雨的地方来”. It commonly comes before an action or movement expression to make the instruction more urgent.

到 “到” indicates movement to a destination in “到遮雨的地方来”. It commonly comes before a place, and “来” then shows movement toward the speaker or reference point.

遮雨 “遮雨” describes protection from rain in “遮雨的地方”, meaning a place that keeps the rain off. It is used before 的地方 to describe the purpose of the place.

地方 “地方” means “place” in “遮雨的地方”. It commonly follows a description such as “遮雨的” to identify a particular kind of place.

来 “来” shows movement toward the speaker or the relevant reference point in “到遮雨的地方来”. Together with “到”, it completes the instruction to come to that place.

别 “别” gives a negative instruction in “别淋透了”, meaning “do not get soaked through”. It commonly comes directly before the action the speaker wants someone to avoid.

淋透 “淋透” means become soaked through from the rain in “别淋透了”. “淋” refers to being rained on and “透” shows that the wetness goes through completely; it is useful when warning someone in heavy rain.

雨 “雨” means “rain” in “雨比看起来更大”. Here it is the thing being compared with how it appeared earlier, and it can be followed by a description of its intensity.

比 “比” introduces a comparison in “雨比看起来更大”, showing that the rain is heavier than its earlier appearance suggested. A common reuse pattern is “A 比 B + adjective” for comparing A with B.

看起来 “看起来” means “look” or “seem” in “比看起来更大”. The whole construction expresses an impression: “看” contributes looking or seeing, while “起来” contributes the resulting impression, so together they mean “seem” or “look.”

更 “更” means “more” or “even more” in “更大”, making the comparison stronger. It commonly comes before an adjective when describing a greater degree.

大 “大” describes the rain as heavy or intense in “雨比看起来更大”, rather than describing physical size. In this use it follows “更” to form “更大,” meaning heavier than expected.

你 “你” means “you,” referring to the person whose umbrella broke in “你可以借我的备用雨伞”. It commonly appears before a verb or modal expression such as “你可以.”

可以 “可以” means “can” or “may” in “你可以借我的备用雨伞”, giving permission or indicating that the borrowing is possible. It commonly comes before the action that is permitted or possible.

借 “借” means “borrow” in “借我的备用雨伞”, where the listener may take and use the speaker’s spare umbrella. It commonly comes before the object being borrowed.

备用 “备用” means “spare” or “kept for backup use” in “备用雨伞”. It comes before a noun to show that the item is available as an extra when needed.

真的 “真的” means “really” or “truly” in “你真的不用它吗？”, adding emphasis to the question. It commonly comes before the verb or expression being questioned.

不 “不” makes “用” negative in “不用它”, expressing that the person does not need or use the umbrella. It commonly comes directly before the verb it negates.

用 In “不用它”, “用” refers to using or needing the umbrella in this context. With “不”, it forms the expression “不用它”, meaning the speaker does not need to use it.

它 “它” means “it” and refers back to the umbrella in “不用它”. It commonly follows a verb when the object has already been identified.

吗 “吗” turns “你真的不用它” into a yes-or-no question in “你真的不用它吗？”. It is placed at the end of the question.

有 “有” means “have” in “我有雨衣”, stating that the speaker possesses a raincoat. It commonly comes before the thing someone has, such as “有雨衣.”

雨衣 “雨衣” means “raincoat” in “我有雨衣”. It is the item the speaker has for protection from the rain and can follow “有” to state possession.

所以 “所以” means “so” or “therefore” in “有雨衣，所以没问题”, introducing the result of having a raincoat. A common pattern is “reason，所以 result.”

没 “没” means “no” or “not” in the expression “没问题”, which reassures the other person that there is no problem. It commonly appears before a noun in this fixed expression.

问题 “问题” means “problem” in “没问题”. Together, “没问题” means that everything is fine or manageable, and the phrase is commonly used as a reassurance.

明天 “明天” means “tomorrow” in “我明天可以把它带回来”, setting the time for returning the umbrella. It commonly appears before the verb phrase to mark when something will happen.

把 “把” introduces the umbrella as the object that will be acted on in “把它带回来”. A common pattern is “把 + object + verb + result or direction,” as in “把它带回来.”

带 “带” means “bring” or “take” in “把它带回来”, describing carrying the umbrella back. It commonly comes before the object and can be followed by a directional expression such as “回来.”

回来 “回来” means “come back” or “bring back” in “把它带回来”, with “来” showing movement back toward the relevant reference point. In this sentence it describes returning the umbrella tomorrow.

回家 “回家” means “go home” or “return home” in “回家的路上”. It commonly comes before 的路上 to describe the route or time while someone is traveling home.

路上 “路上” means “on the way” in “回家的路上”. It commonly follows a destination phrase such as “回家的” to describe what happens during the journey.

注意 “注意” means “take care” or “pay attention” in “注意别淋湿了”, giving advice about avoiding the rain. It commonly comes before a clause that states what to watch out for.

淋湿 “淋湿” means become wet from the rain in “别淋湿了”. “淋” refers to rain falling on someone and “湿” shows the resulting wet condition; it is useful when warning someone outdoors in wet weather.

Grammar Points

动词 + 回来

带雨衣回来

dài yǔyī huílái

Bring the raincoat back.

“回来”放在动词后，表示把某物带回说话人所在的地方。

Chinese Vocabulary

备用 adj

bèiyòng extra; spare

不用 verb

bú yòng not need; not have to use

吹坏 verb

chuī huài break by blowing

大风 noun

dàfēng strong wind

更 adv

gèng even more

借 verb

jiè borrow; lend

看起来 verb

kàn qǐlái look; seem

淋透 verb

líntòu get soaked through

雨伞 noun

yǔsǎn umbrella

雨衣 noun

yǔyī raincoat

遮雨的地方 phrase

zhē yǔ de dìfang sheltered place from the rain

真的 adv

zhēn de really

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

sheltered place from the rain

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遮雨的地方

get soaked through

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淋透

not need; not have to use

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不用

look; seem

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看起来