Renewing a Library Book When Online Access Fails | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 我试着在网上续借这本书，但我的账户打不开。

   I tried to renew my book online, but my account wouldn't load.

   我试着

   I tried to

   在网上

   online

   续借

   renew a loan

   这

   this

   本

   book classifier

   书

   book

   但

   but

   我的

   my

   账户

   account

   打不开

   won’t open

   More detail

   我试着 contains 我, a first-person pronoun referring here to the speaker, followed by 试着, “try to.” Chinese 我 does not mark grammatical number or gender. 试着 introduces an attempted action and can be reused in the pattern 试着 + verb. Example: 我试着联系图书馆。 — “I tried to contact the library.” The past attempted reading here comes from the fixed translation; the Chinese forms themselves do not mark past tense. 在网上 means “online.” 在 marks the setting, and 网上 refers to the internet as the setting for an activity. Example: 在网上预约。 — “Make an appointment online.” 续借 is the verb “renew a loan,” especially a library loan. In this sentence it means extending the borrowing period, not borrowing another item. Example: 我想续借这本书。 — “I want to renew this book.” 这 is a demonstrative meaning “this.” It presents the item as the current or relatively close item; it does not itself state who owns it. 本 is a classifier used with books and some other bound volumes. A demonstrative or number can come before the classifier and noun: 这本书 means “this book.” 书 is the noun “book.” Together, 这本书 identifies the book being renewed. Example: 那本书很有意思。 — “That book is interesting.” 但 marks a contrast, usually translated as “but.” It links the attempted renewal with the problem that follows. Example: 我想去，但今天没时间。 — “I want to go, but I don’t have time today.” 我的 means “my.” It consists of 我, the first-person pronoun, and 的, which marks the possessive relationship with the following noun. This phrase does not change according to the gender or number of the possessed noun. Example: 我的书在这里。 — “My book is here.” 账户 is the noun “account,” here the account used for the online library service. 我的账户 means “my account.” 打不开 means “cannot be opened” or, in this context, “won’t load.” It uses the potential-complement pattern V + 不 + complement: 打 combines with 开 in 打开 “open,” and 不 shows that the result cannot be achieved. Thus 打不开 differs from ordinary negative 不打开, which says that something does not open or is not opened without specifically presenting opening as unsuccessful or impossible. Example: 这个文件打不开。 — “This file won’t open.” Together, 我试着在网上续借这本书 says “I tried to renew this book online.” 但 introduces the contrasting problem, 我的账户打不开, which means “my account wouldn’t load” in the fixed translation. The whole utterance means: “I tried to renew my book online, but my account wouldn’t load.”

2. 在到期日之前给图书馆打电话。

   Call the library before the due date passes.

   在 … 之前

   before …

   到期日

   due date

   图书馆

   library

   打电话

   make a phone call

   More detail

   在 … 之前 places an event before a reference time or event. Here, 在 begins the time phrase and 之前 closes it; the two parts work together around 到期日. Reusable pattern: 在 + time/event + 之前 + action, meaning “do the action before the time/event.” Example: 在八点之前回来。 — “Come back before eight.” 到期日 means “due date” here. It is a noun phrase: 到期 means “become due/expire,” and 日 means “day/date.” The phrase identifies the relevant deadline; it does not itself say that the deadline has already passed. In the supplied context, the book is due today, so this is the date before which the call should be made. 给图书馆 means “to the library.” 给 marks the recipient or addressee of an action, and 图书馆 means “library.” In the pattern 给 + person or organization + 打电话, it identifies who receives the call. Example: 给老师打电话。 — “Call the teacher.” 打电话 is the reusable verb phrase “make a phone call” or, in context, “call.” 打 has the meaning “make/place” in this fixed expression, while 电话 means “telephone/phone call.” The phrase is used with a recipient marked by 给, as in 给朋友打电话 — “call a friend.” Together, 在到期日之前 sets the deadline, 给图书馆 identifies the call’s recipient, and 打电话 gives the action. Chinese commonly omits the subject when it is understood from the situation, so the whole utterance is an instruction: “Call the library before the due date passes.”

3. 我很担心，因为这本书今天到期。

   I'm worried because the book is due today.

   我

   I; me

   很

   very

   担心

   be worried

   因为

   because

   这

   this

   本

   classifier for books

   书

   book

   今天

   today

   到期

   be due; expire

   More detail

   我 means “I/me” here and is the first-person singular pronoun. It identifies the speaker as the person who is worried. A reusable pattern is 我 + description, as in 我很累 (“I’m very tired”). 很 means “very” here and intensifies the following description. In Mandarin, 很 commonly appears before a descriptive word in a simple statement; it does not itself show past or future time. For example, 今天很冷 means “It is very cold today.” 担心 means “to be worried” here. It can function as a verb describing the speaker’s emotional state, as in 我担心考试 (“I’m worried about the exam”). The form does not change for person or number: 我担心, 他们担心. 因为 introduces the reason for what was just said: “because…”. A reusable pattern is 因为 + reason, often paired with 所以 + result (“so…”). For example, 因为下雨，所以我没去 means “Because it rained, I didn’t go.” 这 means “this” and is a demonstrative. It points to a nearby or contextually identified item; its form does not change for gender or number. In this sentence, it is part of the noun phrase referring to the book. 本 is the measure word used with books and other bound volumes. Mandarin commonly places a classifier between a demonstrative or number and a noun: 这本书 (“this book”), 两本书 (“two books”). The classifier is not the noun itself; 书 supplies the meaning “book.” 书 means “book.” It is a noun and can be used with 本, as in 一本书 (“a book”) or 三本书 (“three books”). The supplied sentence identifies the item as a book but does not add a specific title. 今天 means “today,” the day that includes the time of speaking or the relevant reference time. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence or before the predicate, as here. For example, 我今天上班 means “I work today.” 到期 means “be due” or “expire.” It describes the point at which a period, permission, loan, or similar arrangement ends. In this sentence, the fixed translation specifies the intended reading: the book is due today. The same expression also occurs in 到期日 (“due date” or “expiration date”); 到期 itself is the verbal expression, while 日 means “day/date.” Together, 我很担心 means “I’m worried.” 因为 then introduces the reason, 这本书 means “this book,” and 今天到期 means “is due today.” The complete utterance is: “I’m worried because this book is due today.”

4. 如果他们能看出是登录出了问题，他们可能会延长借期。

   They may extend it if they can see there was a login problem.

   如果

   if

   他们

   they

   能看出

   can tell

   登录

   login

   出了问题

   has gone wrong

   可能会

   may

   延长

   extend

   借期

   loan period

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition: “if …”. It commonly comes before the condition, with the result following it. Reusable pattern: 如果 A，就/便 B (“if A, then B”); 就 is optional when the result is clear. Example: 如果下雨，我们不去。— “If it rains, we won’t go.” 他们 means “they” and is a third-person plural human pronoun. Its form does not mark gender. Here it refers to the people who may extend the loan; their exact identity is not specified. 能看出 combines 能 (“can,” showing ability or possibility) with 看出 (“tell or recognize from evidence”). 看出 is useful when an observation or understanding leads to a conclusion, rather than merely looking. Example: 我能看出他很累。— “I can tell that he is tired.” 登录 means “login” here and labels the login process or issue. Chinese can also use 登录 as a verb meaning “to log in”; the surrounding structure determines that use. Here it is the part identified as having the problem. 出了问题 means “has developed a problem” or “has gone wrong.” 出 is the verb in the expression 出问题, and 了 presents the problem as having occurred or having become the situation. This is not the meaning “went out” here. Example: 系统出了问题。— “The system has developed a problem.” 可能会 expresses an uncertain prospective result: “may” or “might.” 可能 marks possibility, while 会 presents the event as prospective or expected; together they do not assert that the extension will happen. 延长 means “extend” or “lengthen.” It is a verb used when a period, duration, or limit is made longer. Example: 我们可以延长会议时间。— “We can extend the meeting time.” 借期 means “loan period,” the period for which something is borrowed. 借 can mean “borrow” or “lend” in compounds, while 期 can mean a period or term. Here the compound names the borrowing term, not the borrowed object. Example: 借期是两周。— “The loan period is two weeks.” Together, 如果他们能看出是登录出了问题 means “if they can tell that the problem was with the login.” In 是登录出了问题, 是 identifies 登录 as the part associated with the problem; this is not the 是…的 construction. 他们可能会延长借期 means “they may extend the loan period.” The object of 延长 is explicitly 借期. Thus the whole utterance says: “They may extend it if they can see there was a login problem.”

5. 如果有人预约了这本书怎么办？

   What if someone has reserved it?

   如果

   if

   有人

   someone

   预约

   reserve; book

   这

   this

   本

   classifier for books

   书

   book

   怎么办

   what should one do?

   More detail

   如果 means “if” and introduces a condition. The reusable pattern is 如果 + condition，..., as in example: 如果下雨，我们不去。 — “If it rains, we won’t go.” In this sentence, the condition is that someone has reserved the book. 有人 means “someone” or “there is someone who…”. 有 presents existence, and 人 means “person”; together, 有人 is an indefinite human subject. It does not identify which person. Compare 没人 — “nobody” — and 有人吗？ — “Is anyone there?” 预约 is the verb “to reserve/book an appointment or a place.” The observed form is 预约了: 预约 is the verb, while 了 follows it to present the reservation as a completed event in this context. Example: 我预约了座位。 — “I reserved a seat.” The noun being reserved is supplied afterward here, rather than being part of the verb itself. 这 means “this.” It is a demonstrative used before a noun in 这 + classifier + noun. Its grammatical role is to point to the nearby or contextually identified item; here, together with 本书, it points to “this book.” 本 is the classifier commonly used with books and other bound volumes. The reusable pattern is 这本书 — “this book”: a demonstrative, then the classifier, then the noun. A classifier is required in this kind of noun phrase after 这; 本 is chosen because the noun is 书. 书 means “book.” In 这本书, it is the noun being identified and the thing that was reserved. Example: 这本书很有用。 — “This book is useful.” 怎么办 is a compact way to ask what action should be taken in a situation: “what should one do?” or “what are we going to do?” The pattern is 怎么办？; the subject is not stated, so the question asks generally for a response to the situation rather than identifying a particular actor. Example: 忘带钥匙了，怎么办？ — “I forgot to bring the keys; what should I do?” The sentence combines the conditional 如果有人预约了这本书 (“if someone has reserved this book”) with 怎么办 (“what should one do?”). Thus the whole utterance means: “What if someone has reserved it?” Here, “it” in the fixed translation refers to the book identified by 这本书. The wording is a direct, conversational question about how to handle that possible situation.

6. 那你可能就不能续借了，即使打电话也不行。

   Then they probably won't be able to renew it, even by phone.

   那 … 就

   then/in that case; then, as a result

   你

   you

   可能

   probably; may

   不能

   cannot; be unable to

   续借

   renew a loan

   即使 … 也

   even if … still …

   打电话

   make a phone call

   不行

   not work; not be possible

   More detail

   那 means “then” or “in that case,” referring to the situation just discussed. 就 marks the resulting conclusion here: “then you probably won’t be able to renew it.” Together, 那……就…… can link a situation to its result, but this sentence does not state a full 如果…… (“if …”) condition. 你 is the second-person pronoun “you.” It does not itself identify whether “you” is singular or plural; the intended addressee is supplied by the conversation. 可能 expresses uncertainty: “probably” or “may.” In 你可能不能……, it modifies the possibility of the whole inability, rather than asserting that the inability is certain. For example: 他可能明天来。 — “He may come tomorrow.” 不能 means “cannot” or “be unable to” here. 不 is the negating element and 能 is the ability/possibility verb; together they say that the action is not possible for the subject. This is different from 不要, which tells someone not to do something. For example: 我今天不能去。 — “I can’t go today.” 续借 is the verb “renew a loan,” especially extending the borrowing period. It is a compound verb: 续 means “continue/extend,” and 借 means “borrow,” but the observed word functions as one useful borrowing-related action. For example: 我想续借这本书。 — “I want to renew this book.” 即使……也…… is a concessive pattern meaning “even if …, still/even then ….” 即使 introduces a condition that might seem to offer a solution, while 也 keeps the same result in force. For example: 即使下雨，我也去。 — “Even if it rains, I’ll still go.” 打电话 means “make a phone call” or “call by phone.” It is a verb-object expression: 打 has the phone-call meaning in this combination, while 电话 means “telephone/phone call.” For example: 你可以打电话问。 — “You can call to ask.” 不行 means “that won’t work” or “it is not possible” in this context. It evaluates the proposed method or situation, rather than directly negating a specific verb with 不. For example: 这样做不行。 — “Doing it this way won’t work.” Putting the parts together, 那 points back to the relevant situation, 你可能不能续借 says that you probably will not be able to renew the loan, and 即使打电话也不行 adds that calling by phone would not make it possible either. The complete meaning is: “Then you probably won’t be able to renew it, even by phone.”

7. 在以为自己可以继续借之前，我会先问问有没有预约。

   I'll ask about holds before I assume I can keep it.

   在 … 之前

   before …

   以为

   assume; think

   自己

   oneself

   可以

   can; be able to

   继续

   continue

   借

   borrow

   我会

   I will

   先

   first

   问问

   ask; inquire

   有没有

   whether there is

   预约

   reservation; hold

   More detail

   在……之前 is a split time pattern meaning “before …”. 在 appears before the event, and 之前 closes the time phrase after it. Here the event inside the pattern is 以为自己可以继续借: the asking happens before that assumption. 以为 means “to think or assume” about something, often presenting a belief that is not yet confirmed. In this sentence, the speaker will ask first rather than assume that continued borrowing is possible. A useful contrast is 认为, which is also “to think,” but is often more neutral or deliberate: 我认为这个办法可行。 means “I think this method is workable.” 自己 is a reflexive pronoun meaning “oneself.” Here it refers to the subject of 以为, namely the speaker: “assume oneself to be able to…”. Its exact referent comes from this subject relationship, not simply from its position next to another word. Example: 她相信自己能做到。 — “She believes she can do it.” 可以 expresses permission or possibility/ability. In 自己可以继续借, it means that the speaker believes continued borrowing is possible or allowed. 可以 is not a past or future inflection; its form stays the same while the surrounding context shows time. Example: 现在可以借吗？ — “Can I borrow it now?” 继续 means “continue” and commonly comes before an action: 继续学习 means “continue studying.” Here it modifies 借, so the idea is continuing the borrowing rather than starting it for the first time. Example: 请继续读。 — “Please continue reading.” 借 is the verb “borrow,” taking the borrowed item as its object when that object is stated. The item is not overtly repeated in this sentence, but the fixed translation and context support the meaning of continuing to borrow the item. 借给 instead means “lend to,” with the lender as the subject: 他借给我一本书。 — “He lent me a book.” 我会 combines 我 (“I”) with 会, which here marks a future or expected action: “I will…”. 会 can also express learned ability in other contexts, but the following plan, 先问问, gives it a future-action reading here. Example: 我会明天回复。 — “I will reply tomorrow.” 先 means “first” and places one action before another. It makes the sequence explicit: asking comes first, and the possible assumption comes later. Example: 你先坐。 — “Sit down first.” 问问 means “ask” in a light, tentative, or exploratory way. The repeated form is a reduplicated form of 问; it does not mean asking twice. Compared with plain 问, 问问 often makes the action sound less weighty: 我问问他。 — “I’ll ask him.” 有没有 asks whether something exists or is present. It is formed from 有 (“there is/are; have”) and its negative counterpart 没有 (“there is/are not; do not have”), giving an existence question: “whether there is…”. Example: 这里有没有空位？ — “Is there an available seat here?” 预约 is a noun here meaning a reservation or hold. In this borrowing context, asking whether there is 预约 checks whether someone has reserved the item, which could affect whether continued borrowing is possible. As a verb, 预约 can also mean “to reserve/book”: 我想预约一个时间。 — “I’d like to book a time.” Together, 在……之前 sets the time relation, with 以为自己可以继续借 as the later event being avoided until it is checked. 我会先问问 says “I will ask first,” and 有没有预约 specifies what the speaker will ask about. The complete meaning is: “I’ll ask about holds before I assume I can keep it.”

8. 如果有人预约了，就今天还回去，以后再借。

   If there is a hold, return it today and borrow it again later.

   如果 … 就

   if … then …

   预约了

   has been reserved

   今天

   today

   还回去

   return it

   以后

   later

   再借

   borrow again

   More detail

   如果 … 就 … is a reusable conditional pattern: 如果 introduces the condition, and 就 introduces the result or action that follows from it. In this sentence, the condition comes first and the action comes after it. Example: 如果下雨，就不去。— “If it rains, then we will not go.” 预约了 means “has made a reservation” or, in this context, “has placed a hold.” The base verb is 预约, “to reserve/book”; 了 marks the reservation as a completed or newly relevant event here. The preceding 有人 means “someone/there is someone,” so 如果有人预约了 means “if someone has placed a hold.” 今天 means “today,” the day on which the return should happen. Example: 我今天还书。— “I’ll return the book today.” 还回去 means “return it.” Here 还 is pronounced huán and means “to return,” not the different word 还 meaning “still” or “also.” 回去 is a directional complement indicating movement back/away to the relevant place. The object is omitted because it is understood from the situation; the sentence does not name it. Example: 请把钥匙还回去。— “Please return the key.” 以后 means “later” or “afterward,” referring to a later time rather than today. Example: 以后再说。— “We’ll talk about it later.” 再借 means “borrow again later.” 借 is the verb “to borrow” in this speaker-centered use; 再 marks a repeated action expected in the future or on a later occasion. Example: 我下周再借。— “I’ll borrow it again next week.” Together, 如果有人预约了 sets the condition “if someone has placed a hold.” 就今天还回去 gives the resulting action “then return it today,” and 以后再借 adds the later plan “and borrow it again later.” The whole utterance means: “If there is a hold, return it today and borrow it again later.”

9. 我到那里后也会重置密码。

   I'll reset my password while I'm there too.

   我

   I; me

   到

   arrive; reach

   那里

   there

   后

   after; afterward

   也会

   will also

   重置

   reset

   密码

   password

   More detail

   我 means “I” here, the speaker. In Chinese, this pronoun does not change for subject case or grammatical gender. A useful contrast is 你 “you” and 他/她 “he/she”; the form must match the intended subject. 到 means “arrive at” or “reach.” It is a verb, and its base form is also 到; Chinese does not mark this verb for person or number. Example: 我到家了。 — “I arrived home.” 那里 means “there,” referring to a place understood from the situation. 那 identifies something relatively distant from the speaker, while 里 contributes the meaning “inside/in” in this place expression. The supplied sentence does not specify the place by name. 后 means “after” or “afterward.” Following a verb phrase, it forms a time pattern: [event]后 = “after [event].” Thus 到那里后 means “after arriving there.” Example: 吃饭后，我去上班。 — “After eating, I go to work.” 也会 combines 也 “also/too” with 会, which here marks a future or expected action, “will.” The subject of 会 is understood to remain 我, already stated at the beginning. 也 adds this action to another relevant action or plan; 会 does not itself mean “also.” Example: 她明天也会来。 — “She will come tomorrow too.” 重置 is the verb “reset,” used for returning a setting or access credential to a new state. It is a fixed verb form and does not change for person or time; the future meaning here comes from 会. Example: 请重置这个账户。 — “Please reset this account.” 密码 means “password.” It is a noun, and the form does not mark singular versus plural. In 重置密码, it is the object of 重置: “reset the password.” Together, 我到那里后 sets the time as “after I get there,” and 也会重置密码 says that the speaker will reset the password as well. The whole utterance means: “I’ll reset my password while I’m there too.”

10. 这样下次续借时应该就不会那么紧张了。

    That should make the next renewal less stressful.

    这样

    this way; like this

    下次

    next time

    续借

    renew; renewal

    时

    when; at the time of

    应该

    should; be expected to

    就

    then; thereby

    不会

    will not; be unlikely to

    那么

    that; so (degree)

    紧张

    nervous; stressed

    了

    now; indicating a changed situation

    More detail

    这样 means “in this way” or “like this.” It points back to an already established action or method; here, the fixed translation presents it as “That,” without specifying the action again. A reusable pattern is 这样 + clause: “This way, …” 下次 means “next time.” It is a time expression, not a count of renewals. For example, 下次见 means “See you next time.” 续借 means “to renew” when used as an action and “renewal” when used as an event or process. In this sentence it is the renewal event before 时. It can be reused in expressions such as 续借图书 (“renew a book”), depending on the context. 时 marks the time when the preceding event occurs: 下次续借时 means “when renewing next time” or “at the next renewal.” It follows the event or situation it schedules. For example, 回家时 means “when going home.” 应该 expresses an expectation or a reasonable prediction: “should” or “is expected to.” Here it predicts the result of the situation introduced by 这样; it does not state an absolute certainty. A reusable pattern is 应该 + clause, as in 他应该到了 (“He should have arrived”). 就 links the expected condition to its consequence, with a sense such as “then,” “thereby,” or “as a result.” In 应该就不会..., it helps present the following outcome as the expected result. Its exact English equivalent depends on the surrounding structure. 不会 is 不 plus 会. It says that the following situation is not expected to happen or will not happen: here, “will not be” or “should not become.” 不 is the general negator, while 会 can express a future or expected occurrence. Together, they do not mean that renewal itself will not happen; they negate the later state described by 那么紧张. 那么 modifies the degree of the following adjective, meaning “that” or “so” in the sense of degree. 那么紧张 means “that stressed” or “so nervous.” It is not the time word “then” here. A related degree pattern is 这么 + adjective, meaning “this/so [adjective]” from the speaker’s perspective. 紧张 is an adjective meaning “nervous” or “stressed” in this context. It describes a person’s emotional state; it can also have other context-dependent uses, such as describing something being tense or tight. Here its degree is reduced by 不会...那么: the person is expected not to be so stressed. Sentence-final 了 marks a changed situation or a new state. It does not by itself make the whole sentence past tense. Here it presents the future or expected situation as becoming different: after the relevant change, the next renewal is expected to be less stressful. Together, 这样 supplies the understood method or change, 下次续借时 sets the time, and 应该就不会那么紧张了 predicts a changed emotional state at that time. The complete meaning is: “That should make the next renewal less stressful.”