About This Lesson
Use Using a shared laundry room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今天公共洗衣房很忙。
Jīntiān gōnggòng xǐyīfáng hěn máng. The shared laundry room is busy today.
B
开始洗衣服前，把你的名字写在使用表上。
Kāishǐ xǐ yīfu qián, bǎ nǐ de míngzi xiě zài shǐyòng biǎo shàng. Put your name on the schedule before starting a load.
A
今天下午晚些时候有一台洗衣机可以用。
Jīntiān xiàwǔ wǎn xiē shíhou yǒu yì tái xǐyījī kěyǐ yòng. There's a washer open later this afternoon.
B
设一个计时器。
Shè yí ge jìshíqì. Set a timer.
B
这样下一个人就不用一直等。
Zhèyàng xià yí ge rén jiù bú yòng yìzhí děng. So the next person is not stuck waiting.
A
洗衣程序一结束，我就该把衣服拿出来吗？
Xǐyī chéngxù yì jiéshù, wǒ jiù gāi bǎ yīfu ná chūlái ma? Should I move my clothes as soon as the cycle ends?
B
请这样做；湿衣服留在机器里会耽误大家。
Qǐng zhèyàng zuò; shī yīfu liú zài jīqì lǐ huì dānwu dàjiā. Please do; wet clothes left in a machine hold everyone up.
A
洗衣程序结束前，我会把洗衣篮带下来。
Xǐyī chéngxù jiéshù qián, wǒ huì bǎ xǐyīlán dài xiàlái. I'll bring my basket down before it finishes.
B
这样应该能让事情顺利进行。
Zhèyàng yīnggāi néng ràng shìqing shùnlì jìnxíng. That should keep things running smoothly.Word by Word
今天
“今天” means today, referring to the current day in “今天公共洗衣房很忙。” It is commonly placed before the subject or the main statement to set the time.
公共
“公共” means public or shared, describing a facility used by more than one person in “公共洗衣房”. It commonly comes before a noun to identify something shared.
洗衣房
“洗衣房” means laundry room, the place being discussed in the dialogue. It is a compound referring to a room for washing clothes and is used here as the subject of the sentence.
很
In “很忙”, “很” indicates the degree of being busy, giving the description “very busy” or simply a natural adjective predicate. It is commonly placed before an adjective such as “忙”.
忙
“忙” means busy in “公共洗衣房很忙”, describing the laundry room as having many users or much activity today. It is useful when describing a person, place, or period with a lot to do.
开始
“开始” means start or begin in “开始洗衣服前”, referring to the point before the washing begins. It is placed before the activity being started, here “洗衣服”.
洗
“洗” means wash in “洗衣服”, describing the action performed on the clothes. It commonly comes before an object, such as “衣服” in this dialogue.
衣服
“衣服” means clothes in “洗衣服”, the items being washed. It can follow “洗” as the object of the washing action.
前
In “开始洗衣服前”, “前” means before and places the washing action earlier than another action. The pattern “动词短语前” is used to refer to the time before that activity.
把
In “把你的名字写在使用表上”, “把” marks “你的名字” as the object being handled by the following action. This construction is useful when focusing on what is written, moved, or otherwise dealt with.
你
“你” means you and directly addresses the other person in “你的名字”. It commonly appears before “的” when forming a possessive phrase.
的
In “你的名字”, “的” links “你” with “名字” and shows that the name belongs to or is associated with you. The pattern “person + 的 + noun” is used for possession or association.
名字
“名字” means name, specifically the name that should be written on the usage schedule. In “把你的名字写在使用表上”, it is the object of “写”.
写
“写” means write in the instruction “把你的名字写在使用表上”. It describes putting written information in a specified place.
在
In “写在使用表上”, “在” introduces the place where the name is written. It is commonly used before a location in an expression describing where an action or result is located.
使用
In “使用表”, “使用” contributes the meaning of use or usage, identifying the schedule as one for using the laundry machines. Here it modifies “表” inside a compound rather than describing a separate action.
表
In “使用表”, “表” means a table, chart, or schedule for recording usage. It is the item on which the name is written in this shared laundry room.
上
In “使用表上”, “上” means on and indicates the surface or place of the schedule. The pattern “noun + 上” commonly identifies something located on a list, surface, or other item.
下午
“下午” means afternoon in “今天下午晚些时候”. It sets the general time of day before the more specific phrase “晚些时候”.
晚些
In “晚些时候”, “晚些” means a little later, narrowing the time to later in the afternoon. It commonly appears before “时候” when referring to a later time.
时候
In “晚些时候”, “时候” means time or point in time. Together, the phrase refers to a later time when a washing machine is available.
有
In “有一台洗衣机可以用”, “有” introduces the existence or availability of something: there is a washing machine that can be used. It is commonly followed by the available person or thing.
一
In “一台洗衣机”, “一” means one and gives the quantity before the classifier “台”. In “洗衣程序一结束”, the same form introduces the moment something ends, meaning as soon as the cycle ends.
台
“台” is the classifier used for machines in “一台洗衣机”. The pattern “一 + 台 + machine” gives the quantity of a machine.
洗衣机
“洗衣机” means washing machine, the machine that is available later in the afternoon. It is used here as the thing introduced by “有”.
可以
In “可以用”, “可以” means can or be available to, indicating that the washing machine is available for use. It commonly comes before the action that is permitted or possible.
用
In “可以用”, “用” means use, referring to using the available washing machine. It follows “可以” to form the idea that someone can use it.
设
“设” means set in the direct instruction “设一个计时器”. It describes arranging a timer to act as a reminder during the laundry process.
个
“个” is the general classifier in “一个计时器”. It is placed between the number “一” and the noun when counting this timer.
计时器
“计时器” means timer, the device to set so the next person does not have to wait. It appears as the object of “设” in the instruction.
这样
“这样” means this way or so, referring to the action of setting a timer in “这样下一个人就不用一直等”. It is useful for introducing the result or purpose of an immediately preceding action.
下一个
“下一个” means next and modifies “人” in “下一个人”. It identifies the person whose turn comes after the current user.
人
“人” means person in “下一个人”, referring to the next laundry-room user. It commonly follows a word such as “下一个” to identify someone in sequence.
就
In “就不用一直等”, “就” links the situation with its resulting consequence: then the next person will not have to keep waiting. It commonly appears after a condition or setup to emphasize the resulting action or state.
不
In “不用一直等”, “不” negates “用” and gives the meaning not need to or do not have to. The pattern “不用 + action” is useful when saying that an action is unnecessary.
一直
In “一直等”, “一直” means continuously or all the time, emphasizing that the waiting would continue. It commonly comes before an action to describe its uninterrupted duration.
等
“等” means wait in “不用一直等”. It describes the next person remaining without using the machine until the current user clears it.
洗衣
In “洗衣程序”, “洗衣” contributes the meaning of washing clothes and identifies what kind of program is meant. Here it modifies “程序” as part of the compound for a laundry cycle.
程序
In “洗衣程序”, “程序” means program or cycle, referring to the washing cycle of the machine. It is the subject of “结束” in “洗衣程序一结束”.
结束
“结束” means end or finish in “洗衣程序一结束”, referring to the washing cycle reaching its end. With “一” before it, the phrase means as soon as the cycle ends.
我
“我” means I or me in “我就该把衣服拿出来吗？” and “我会把洗衣篮带下来”. It identifies the speaker as the person responsible for the action.
该
In “我就该把衣服拿出来吗？”, “该” means should or be expected to, asking whether moving the clothes is the proper action. It commonly comes before the action someone is considering or expected to take.
拿
In “拿出来”, “拿” means take and describes handling the clothes. Together with “出来”, it means take something out.
出来
In “拿出来”, “出来” adds outward movement to “拿”, so the clothes are taken out of the machine. It functions with the action word rather than carrying the whole meaning by itself.
吗
“吗” is the sentence-final question particle in “我就该把衣服拿出来吗？”. It turns the statement into a yes-or-no question about the appropriate action.
请
“请” means please and makes the instruction “请这样做” polite. It is commonly placed before a requested action.
做
In “请这样做”, “做” means do and refers back to moving the clothes as soon as the cycle ends. The phrase is useful when asking someone to carry out an action already understood from the context.
湿
“湿” means wet in “湿衣服”, describing the clothes after the washing cycle. It commonly comes before a noun to describe its condition.
留
In “湿衣服留在机器里”, “留” means remain or be left, describing the clothes staying inside the machine. It is used with a location phrase here to show where they remain.
机器
“机器” means machine in “机器里”, referring to the washing machine as the place where the wet clothes are left. It is followed by “里” to specify the inside.
里
In “机器里”, “里” means inside or in and places the clothes inside the machine. The pattern “place + 里” identifies an interior location.
会
In “会耽误大家”, “会” indicates that leaving the wet clothes is likely to cause the stated consequence. It commonly comes before an action or result that is expected to happen.
耽误
“耽误” means delay or hold up in “耽误大家”, describing how the clothes prevent everyone from using the machines promptly. It can be followed by the people affected by the delay.
大家
“大家” means everyone, referring to all the people sharing the laundry room. In “耽误大家”, it is the group affected by the delay.
洗衣篮
“洗衣篮” means laundry basket, the basket the speaker plans to bring downstairs before the cycle finishes. It is the object of “带” in “带下来”.
带
In “带下来”, “带” means bring or carry, referring to carrying the laundry basket. Together with “下来”, it describes bringing it downward.
下来
In “带下来”, “下来” adds downward movement to “带”, so the basket is brought down to the laundry room. It functions as a directional complement with the action word.
应该
In “应该能让事情顺利进行”, “应该” means should or is expected to, expressing a reasonable prediction about the result of the plan. It commonly comes before “能” when saying that an action is expected to produce an outcome.
能
In “能让事情顺利进行”, “能” means can or be able to, indicating that the plan can produce the desired result. It comes before “让” to introduce what the action is capable of doing.
让
In “让事情顺利进行”, “让” means make or allow and introduces the result caused by the plan. It is followed by “事情” and the description of how things proceed.
事情
“事情” means things or matters in “让事情顺利进行”, referring generally to the shared laundry arrangements. It is the thing that is allowed or caused to proceed.
顺利
In “顺利进行”, “顺利” means smoothly or without problems and describes how the arrangements proceed. It commonly comes before an action such as “进行” to describe the manner of progress.
进行
In “事情顺利进行”, “进行” means proceed or carry on, describing the laundry arrangements continuing successfully. It is used after the subject “事情” and can be modified by “顺利”.
Grammar Points
请 + 动词
请结束洗衣程序。
Qǐng jiéshù xǐyī chéngxù.Please finish the wash cycle.
“请”放在动词前，用来礼貌地提出请求。
一直 + 动词
大家一直等。
Dàjiā yìzhí děng.Everyone keeps waiting.
“一直”放在动词前，表示动作连续进行或持续一段时间。
Chinese Vocabulary
公共
adj
gōnggòng
shared; public
今天
adv
jīntiān
today
开始
verb
kāishǐ
to start; to begin
忙
adj
máng
busy
名字
noun
míngzi
name
设
verb
shè
to set
使用表
noun
shǐyòng biǎo
usage schedule
晚些时候
adv
wǎn xiē shíhou
later
洗衣房
noun
xǐyīfáng
laundry room
洗衣服
verb
xǐ yīfu
to do laundry; to wash clothes
洗衣机
noun
xǐyījī
washing machine
写
verb
xiě
to write
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
later
Show Answer
晚些时候laundry room
Show Answer
洗衣房usage schedule
Show Answer
使用表to do laundry; to wash clothes