About This Lesson
Use Cleaning Up a Common Room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们在公共休息室待了一会儿。
wǒmen zài gōnggòng xiūxíshì dāi le yíhuìr We used the common room for a while.
B
我们出去前把这里收拾干净吧。
wǒmen chūqù qián bǎ zhèlǐ shōushi gānjìng ba Let's clean it up before we head out.
A
我来把椅子放回原来的位置。
wǒ lái bǎ yǐzi fàng huí yuánlái de wèizhì I'll put the chairs back where they were.
B
我来清理桌上的垃圾。
wǒ lái qīnglǐ zhuō shàng de lājī I'll clear the trash from the tables.
A
我们也要把灯关掉吗？
wǒmen yě yào bǎ dēng guāndiào ma Should we turn off the lights too?
B
把灯关掉。
bǎ dēng guāndiào Turn off the lights.
B
我们锁门前把窗户关上。
wǒmen suǒmén qián bǎ chuānghu guānshàng Close the windows before we lock up.
A
房间看起来已经可以给下一组人使用了。
fángjiān kàn qǐlái yǐjīng kěyǐ gěi xià yì zǔ rén shǐyòng le The room looks ready for the next group.
B
那我们就可以锁门离开了。
nà wǒmen jiù kěyǐ suǒmén líkāi le Then we can lock the door and leave.Word by Word
我们
In this dialogue, “我们” means “we” or “us,” referring to the two speakers together. It is the subject in “我们在公共休息室待了一会儿” and can be placed before an action when people act together.
在
In “我们在公共休息室待了一会儿,” “在” means “in” or “at” and introduces the place where the action happens. A common reuse pattern is 在 + place + action.
公共
In “公共休息室,” “公共” means “public” or “shared,” describing a place used by multiple people. It normally appears before the place noun it modifies.
休息室
“休息室” means “common room” or “lounge,” the place where the speakers stayed. It can follow 在 to name a location, as in “在公共休息室.”
待
In “待了一会儿,” “待” means “stay” or “spend time.” It describes remaining in the common room for a period, and a common reuse pattern is 在 + place + 待 + duration.
了
After “待” in “待了一会儿,” “了” shows that the stay is viewed as completed. A reliable reuse is verb + 了 when reporting an action that has been completed.
一会儿
“一会儿” means “for a short while” and gives the duration of “待.” In this expression, 一 contributes the idea of one unit, while 会儿 contributes a short period of time; a common reuse pattern is verb + 一会儿.
出去
In “我们出去前,” “出去” means “go out.” It comes before 前 to form the time expression “before going out,” and a common pattern is action + 前.
前
In “出去前,” “前” means “before” and places the following situation before the action named before it. A reliable reuse pattern is verb or phrase + 前 for “before doing something.”
把
In “把这里收拾干净吧,” “把” marks 这里 as the object that will be dealt with. A common reuse pattern is 把 + object + action or result.
这里
In “把这里收拾干净吧,” “这里” means “here” or “this place,” referring to the common room. It can be used as the place or object being discussed when the speakers are already there.
收拾
In “把这里收拾干净吧,” “收拾” means “tidy up” or “clean up.” It names the action applied to the place, and a common reuse pattern is 收拾 + place or things.
干净
In “把这里收拾干净吧,” “干净” means “clean” and describes the intended result of 收拾. Together, 收拾干净 expresses cleaning something until it is clean; this result pattern can be reused after an action.
吧
At the end of “我们出去前把这里收拾干净吧,” “吧” softens the suggestion and makes it sound like a proposal to act together. It commonly follows a suggestion or a softened command.
我
In “我来把椅子放回原来的位置,” “我” means “I” or “me” and identifies the speaker who will take responsibility for the action. It is placed before the action being proposed or carried out.
来
In “我来把椅子放回原来的位置,” “来” indicates that the speaker will take responsibility for the following action. A common reuse pattern is 我来 + action when offering to do something.
椅子
In “把椅子放回原来的位置,” “椅子” refers to the chairs that need to be returned. It is the object after 把 and before the action 放回.
放回
In “把椅子放回原来的位置,” “放回” means “put back,” describing the action of returning the chairs to their earlier place. A reliable reuse pattern is 把 + object + 放回 + place.
原来
In “原来的位置,” “原来” means “original” and describes the position the chairs had before. It appears before 的 and the noun it modifies, forming 原来的 + noun.
的
In “原来的位置,” “的” links the modifier 原来 to the noun 位置. A common reuse pattern is modifier + 的 + noun.
位置
In “原来的位置,” “位置” means “place” or “position,” specifically the place where the chairs should be returned. It can follow 放回 to name the destination of the action.
清理
In “我来清理桌上的垃圾,” “清理” means “clear” or “clean,” referring to removing the trash from the tables. A common reuse pattern is 清理 + object.
桌上
In “桌上的垃圾,” “桌上” means “on the table” and identifies where the trash is located. It can appear before 的 and a noun to describe something located on a surface.
垃圾
In “清理桌上的垃圾,” “垃圾” means “trash” or “rubbish,” the object being cleared away. A reliable reuse pattern is 清理 + 垃圾 when talking about removing rubbish.
也
In “我们也要把灯关掉吗,” “也” means “also” or “too,” adding turning off the lights to the other clean-up tasks. It commonly appears before the action that is being added.
要
In “我们也要把灯关掉吗,” “要” asks whether the speakers should or need to perform the following action. A common reuse pattern is 要 + action when discussing a needed or intended task.
灯
In “把灯关掉,” “灯” means “light” or “lights” and is the object being turned off. It appears after 把 and before the action 关掉.
关掉
In “把灯关掉,” “关掉” means “turn off,” describing changing the lights from on to off. A reliable reuse pattern is 把 + object + 关掉.
吗
At the end of “我们也要把灯关掉吗,” “吗” marks the sentence as a yes-no question. It is placed at the end of a statement when asking for confirmation.
锁门
In “我们锁门前,” “锁门” means “lock the door.” It names the action that will happen after the windows are closed, and it can be followed by 前 to mean “before locking the door.”
窗户
In “把窗户关上,” “窗户” means “window” or “windows” and is the object that must be closed. It appears after 把 and before the closing action.
关上
In “把窗户关上,” “关上” means “close” or “shut,” bringing the windows into a closed position. A common reuse pattern is 把 + object + 关上.
房间
In “房间看起来已经可以给下一组人使用了,” “房间” means “room.” It is the subject whose condition or appearance is being described.
看起来
“看起来” means “look” or “seem,” describing an impression based on how something appears. In this dialogue, 看 contributes looking or seeing, while 起来 contributes the resulting impression; a common pattern is 看起来 + description.
已经
In “房间看起来已经可以给下一组人使用了,” “已经” means “already” and shows that the room has reached the required condition by this point. It commonly appears before the condition or action that has already become true.
可以
In “已经可以给下一组人使用了,” “可以” means that the room is now suitable or ready for the next group to use. It commonly appears before an action to show that the action is possible or appropriate.
给
In “给下一组人使用,” “给” means “for” or “to” and introduces the people who will use the room. A common reuse pattern is 给 + person + action.
下一组
In “下一组人,” “下一组” means “the next group,” referring to the group that will come after the current users. It appears before 人 to specify which group of people is meant.
人
In “下一组人,” “人” means “person” or “people” and identifies the members of the next group. It follows a group description to name the people in that group.
使用
In “给下一组人使用,” “使用” means “use,” referring to the next group using the room. It is the action that the room is ready for, and a common reuse pattern is 使用 + object.
那
At the beginning of “那我们就可以锁门离开了,” “那” means “then” or “in that case,” connecting the room’s readiness with the next decision. It commonly introduces a conclusion based on what was just established.
就
In “那我们就可以锁门离开了,” “就” marks the consequence that follows from the situation. A common reuse pattern is 那 + situation + 就 + result.
离开
In “锁门离开了,” “离开” means “leave,” describing the final action after locking the door. A common reuse pattern is 离开 + place when saying that someone leaves a location.
Grammar Points
动词 + 回 + 地点
放回原来的位置
fàng huí yuánlái de wèizhìput back in the original place
“回”放在动词后，表示动作使物品回到原来的位置。
动词 + 干净
收拾干净
shōushi gānjìngclean up completely
“干净”放在动词后，表示动作完成后达到整洁的结果。
Chinese Vocabulary
出去
verb
chūqù
go out; leave
我们出去前把这里收拾干净吧。
待
verb
dāi
stay; spend time
我们在公共休息室待了一会儿。
灯
noun
dēng
light; lamp
我们也要把灯关掉吗?
放回
verb
fàng huí
put back
我来把椅子放回原来的位置。
公共休息室
noun
gōnggòng xiūxíshì
common room
我们在公共休息室待了一会儿。
关掉
verb
guāndiào
turn off
把灯关掉。
垃圾
noun
lājī
trash; garbage
我来清理桌上的垃圾。
清理
verb
qīnglǐ
clear; clean
我来清理桌上的垃圾。
收拾干净
phrase
shōushi gānjìng
clean up completely
我们出去前把这里收拾干净吧。
一会儿
phrase
yíhuìr
for a while
我们在公共休息室待了一会儿。
椅子
noun
yǐzi
chair
我来把椅子放回原来的位置。
原来的位置
phrase
yuánlái de wèizhì
the original place
我来把椅子放回原来的位置。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
common room
Show Answer
公共休息室clean up completely
Show Answer
收拾干净the original place
Show Answer
原来的位置clear; clean