Fixing a Washing Machine | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a Washing Machine to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

这台洗衣机启动不了。

Zhè tái xǐyījī qǐdòng bùliǎo. This washing machine won't start.

你检查插头和电源按钮了吗？

Nǐ jiǎnchá chātóu hé diànyuán ànniǔ le ma? Did you check the plug and the power button?

插头插好了，但是没有反应。

Chātóu chā hǎo le, dànshì méiyǒu fǎnyìng. The plug is in, but nothing happens.

门可能没有关好。

Mén kěnéng méiyǒu guān hǎo. Maybe the door isn't closed properly.

说明书上说，启动前应该听到咔哒一声。

Shuōmíngshū shàng shuō, qǐdòng qián yīnggāi tīngdào kādā yī shēng. The instructions say it should click before it starts.

再推一下门，然后按启动键。

Zài tuī yíxià mén, ránhòu àn qǐdòng jiàn. Push the door once more, then press start.

门咔哒一声响了，现在可以用了。

Mén kādā yī shēng xiǎng le, xiànzài kěyǐ yòng le. The door clicked, and now it works.

有时候，简单的检查就能解决问题。

Yǒu shíhou, jiǎndān de jiǎnchá jiù néng jiějué wèntí. Sometimes simple checks solve the problem.

Word by Word

这 “这” means “this” and points to a nearby or currently relevant thing; here it identifies the washing machine being discussed. It appears before the classifier in “这台洗衣机”, a useful pattern for referring to one specific object.

台 “台” is the classifier used here for the washing machine in “这台洗衣机”. It comes between a demonstrative or number and the machine noun, so it is useful when identifying a particular machine or similar device.

洗衣机 “洗衣机” means “washing machine”, the appliance that will not start in this dialogue. It can follow a classifier as in “这台洗衣机” when talking about one specific machine.

启动 “启动” means “start” or “begin operating”; in “启动不了” it refers to the washing machine starting its operation. It is used directly before “不了” to describe an inability to start, making it useful when reporting that a device will not operate.

不了 “不了” shows that the action cannot be achieved in “启动不了”, meaning the washing machine cannot start. It follows the action word in this form and is useful for reporting that a device or action is not possible.

你 “你” means “you”, referring to the person being asked about checking the machine. It comes before the verb in “你检查插头和电源按钮了吗？”, the usual position for the person performing the action.

检查 “检查” means “check” or “inspect”; here it asks whether the plug and power button were checked. It can be followed by the things being examined, as in “检查插头和电源按钮”, which is useful when troubleshooting a device.

插头 “插头” means “plug”, specifically the plug checked in “检查插头和电源按钮”. It can follow “检查” as the object of the inspection, so it is useful when discussing whether a device is connected to power.

和 “和” means “and” and joins the two things checked in “插头和电源按钮”. It is useful for linking nouns in a list, especially when naming more than one object to inspect.

电源 “电源” refers to the power supply in “电源按钮”, the button connected with the machine’s power. It comes before “按钮” to specify what kind of button is meant, which is useful when identifying controls on a device.

按钮 “按钮” means “button”; in “电源按钮” it is the button used for power. It follows a specifying word such as “电源”, and it can be listed with another object after “检查”.

了 In “你检查插头和电源按钮了吗？”, “了” presents the checking as an action whose completion is relevant to the question. It appears before the yes-no question particle “吗”, a useful pattern for asking whether someone has done something.

吗 “吗” turns “你检查插头和电源按钮了” into a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence, as in “你检查插头和电源按钮了吗？”, when asking another person for a simple confirmation.

插好 “插好” means that the plug has been inserted properly, as in “插头插好了”. “好” shows that the plugging-in action has reached the desired result, so this form is useful when confirming that something has been connected correctly.

但是 “但是” means “but” and introduces the contrast between the plug being properly connected and nothing happening. It links the two parts of “插头插好了，但是没有反应”, a useful pattern for reporting a problem despite a completed check.

没有 “没有” means that there is not or has not been something; here “没有反应” means there is no response from the machine. It comes before the noun “反应”, a useful pattern for saying that a response or result is absent.

反应 “反应” means “response” or “reaction”; in “没有反应” it refers to the machine giving no response after the plug is connected. It commonly follows “没有” when reporting that nothing happened after an action.

门 “门” means “door”; here it is the washing machine door that may not be closed properly. It appears as the subject in “门可能没有关好” and as the object in “推一下门”, useful when describing or adjusting a door.

可能 “可能” means “maybe” or “possibly” and marks the speaker’s explanation as uncertain in “门可能没有关好”. It comes before the possible action or condition, making it useful when suggesting a cause without claiming certainty.

关好 “关好” means to close something properly or securely; here it describes the door in “没有关好”. “好” indicates the desired result of closing, so this form is useful when checking whether a door or cover is fully closed.

说明书 “说明书” means “instructions” or “manual”, the document consulted about the machine in this dialogue. It can be followed by “上” in “说明书上说” when referring to information written in the manual.

上 In “说明书上说”, “上” indicates that the information is in or on the manual. It follows the noun “说明书” and comes before “说”, a useful pattern for reporting what a document states.

说 “说” means “say” or “state”; in “说明书上说” it introduces information given by the manual. It can follow a source such as “说明书上” when reporting written instructions.

前 “前” means “before” in the time expression “启动前”, referring to the time before the machine starts. It follows an action word and forms a time phrase that can be placed before the expected action or event.

应该 “应该” means “should” or “is expected to”; here it says that a clicking sound is expected before starting. It comes before “听到咔哒一声”, making it useful for describing an instruction or expected result.

听到 “听到” means “hear” or “hear something”; in “听到咔哒一声” it refers to perceiving the click by hearing. It is followed by the sound heard, which is useful when giving instructions based on an audible signal.

咔哒 “咔哒” represents a clicking sound in “咔哒一声”. It is useful when describing the sound made by a door, switch, or similar mechanism as it closes or engages.

声 “声” means “sound” here and acts as the measure word in “咔哒一声”, one click or one sound. It follows the sound expression and a number, making it useful for counting or describing a distinct sound.

再 “再” means “again” or “once more”; in “再推一下门” it asks the person to push the door one more time. It comes before the action, a useful pattern when requesting a repeated attempt.

推 “推” means “push”; here it is the action directed at the washing machine door in “推一下门”. It can be followed by the object being pushed, which is useful for giving a simple physical instruction.

一下 “一下” makes “推一下门” refer to one brief or light push rather than an extended action. It follows the verb and before the object in this expression, a useful pattern for making a simple action sound limited and practical.

然后 “然后” means “then” or “afterward” and connects the two steps in “再推一下门，然后按启动键”. It introduces the second action after the first, which is useful when giving instructions in sequence.

按 “按” means “press”; in “按启动键” it tells the listener to press the start key. It is followed by the control being pressed, a useful pattern for operating buttons or keys.

键 “键” means “key” or “button”; in “启动键” it identifies the control used to start the machine. It follows “启动” to specify the key’s function, which is useful when referring to a particular control.

响 “响” means “make a sound” or “sound”; in “门咔哒一声响了” it describes the door producing the click. It follows the sound description and “一声”, making it useful when reporting that an audible signal has occurred.

现在 “现在” means “now” and marks the current situation in “现在可以用了”. It usually comes before the statement about the present condition, which is useful when reporting a change after troubleshooting.

可以 “可以” means “can” or “is able to”; here it says that the washing machine is now usable in “可以用了”. It comes before “用” to express ability or possibility, which is useful when confirming that a device can be operated.

用 “用” means “use”; in “可以用了” it refers to the machine being available for use. It follows “可以” in this form, which is useful when saying that something can now be used.

有时候 “有时候” means “sometimes” and introduces a statement that is true on some occasions rather than always. It appears at the beginning of “有时候，简单的检查就能解决问题”, a useful position for setting the frequency of a general observation.

简单 “简单” means “simple”; in “简单的检查” it describes checks that are not complicated. It comes before “的” and the noun it describes, a useful pattern for adding an adjective to a noun phrase.

的 In “简单的检查”, “的” links the description “简单” to the noun “检查”. It follows the describing word and comes before the noun, forming an attributive phrase useful for specifying what kind of check is meant.

就 In “简单的检查就能解决问题”, “就” emphasizes that these simple checks are sufficient to solve the problem. It appears before “能” in the result statement, a useful pattern for connecting a condition or small action with an immediate or sufficient result.

能 “能” means “can” or “be able to”; here it says that simple checks can solve the problem. It comes before the action “解决问题”, a useful pattern for expressing the ability or possibility of achieving a result.

解决 “解决” means “solve” or “resolve”; in “解决问题” it describes dealing successfully with the machine’s problem. It is followed by the object “问题”, a useful verb-object pattern for discussing how an issue is handled.

问题 “问题” means “problem”; here it refers to the washing machine’s failure to start. It follows “解决” in “解决问题”, a common pattern for talking about addressing a difficulty.

Grammar Points

动词 + 好

插头插好了。

Chātóu chā hǎo le.

The plug is properly plugged in.

“好”放在动词后面，表示动作已经完成，并且结果合适或令人满意。

可以 + 动词 + 了

洗衣机可以用了。

Xǐyījī kěyǐ yòng le.

The washing machine can be used now.

“了”表示情况发生了变化：之前不能用，现在可以用了。

Chinese Vocabulary

插好了 phrase

chā hǎo le is plugged in properly

插头插好了,但是没有反应。

插头 noun

chātóu plug

你检查插头和电源按钮了吗?

电源按钮 noun

diànyuán ànniǔ power button

你检查插头和电源按钮了吗?

关好 verb

guān hǎo close properly

门可能没有关好。

检查 verb

jiǎnchá check; inspect

你检查插头和电源按钮了吗?

咔哒一声 phrase

kādā yī shēng a clicking sound

启动前应该听到咔哒一声。

可能 adv

kěnéng maybe; possibly

门可能没有关好。

没有反应 phrase

méiyǒu fǎnyìng nothing happens; there is no response

插头插好了,但是没有反应。

启动不了 phrase

qǐdòng bùliǎo cannot start

这台洗衣机启动不了。

说明书 noun

shuōmíngshū instructions; manual

说明书上说,启动前应该听到咔哒一声。

听到 verb

tīngdào hear

启动前应该听到咔哒一声。

洗衣机 noun

xǐyījī washing machine

这台洗衣机启动不了。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

cannot start

Show Answer

启动不了

power button

Show Answer

电源按钮

nothing happens; there is no response

Show Answer

没有反应

a clicking sound

Show Answer

咔哒一声