Taking responsibility for a damaged borrowed tool | Learn Chinese in English

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Use Taking responsibility for a damaged borrowed tool to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我得如实说明我借的那把锯子的情况。

wǒ děi rúshí shuōmíng wǒ jiè de nà bǎ jùzi de qíngkuàng I need to be honest about the saw I borrowed.

你能解释一下发生了什么吗？

nǐ néng jiěshì yíxià fāshēng le shénme ma Can you explain what happened?

我锯厚木头的时候，锯片损坏了。

wǒ jù hòu mùtou de shíhou, jùpiàn sǔnhuài le The blade got damaged while I was cutting thick wood.

那木头对那把锯子来说是不是太厚了？

nà mùtou duì nà bǎ jùzi lái shuō shì bú shì tài hòu le Was the wood too thick for that saw?

可能是，而且我本来应该先问一下再试的。

kěnéng shì, érqiě wǒ běnlái yīnggāi xiān wèn yíxià zài shì de Probably, and I should have asked before trying.

谢谢你坦白告诉我，而不是把这件事藏起来。

xièxie nǐ tǎnbái gàosu wǒ, ér bú shì bǎ zhè jiàn shì cáng qǐlái I appreciate you being upfront instead of hiding it.

我可以安排维修，或者换掉锯片。

wǒ kěyǐ ānpái wéixiū, huòzhě huàn diào jùpiàn I can arrange a repair or replace the blade.

换掉锯片应该就够了。

huàn diào jùpiàn yīnggāi jiù gòu le Replacing the blade should be enough.

我今天会把这件事处理好。

wǒ jīntiān huì bǎ zhè jiàn shì chǔlǐ hǎo I will take care of that today.

你把锯子带回来之前，换好锯片后告诉我一声。

nǐ bǎ jùzi dài huílái zhīqián, huàn hǎo jùpiàn hòu gàosu wǒ yì shēng Tell me when it is replaced before you bring the saw back.

Word by Word

我我 means “I” or “me”; here it refers to the speaker who borrowed the saw. It is used as the subject in 我得如实说明 and as the person who should be told in 告诉我一声. Use it when identifying yourself as the person doing or receiving an action.

得得 means “need to” or “have to” in 我得如实说明. It comes before an action to express necessity. Use it when stating that an action is required.

如实如实 means “truthfully” or “according to the facts” in 如实说明. It describes how the speaker will give the information about the saw. It is useful when reporting a problem honestly or giving an accurate account.

说明说明 means “explain” or “state clearly” in 如实说明. The speaker uses it to present the situation of the borrowed saw. It commonly comes before the matter or information that someone needs explained.

借借 means “borrow” in 借的那把锯子. Here it describes the action that happened before the saw was discussed. It is placed before 的 when the action is used to describe a noun.

的的 links the description 借 to the noun 那把锯子 in 借的那把锯子. The phrase identifies the saw that the speaker borrowed. It commonly follows a description before the noun it modifies.

那那 means “that” in 那把锯子 and points to a particular saw already relevant to the conversation. It appears before the classifier and noun. Use it when referring to a specific item rather than introducing an unspecified one.

把把 is the classifier for the tool in 那把锯子. It is used between 那 and 锯子 to count or identify this kind of handled object. Use the same position when referring to a particular tool with a handle.

锯子锯子 means “saw” in 那把锯子. It is the tool that was borrowed, damaged, and later brought back. It is used as a noun after its classifier 把.

情况情况 means “situation” or “condition” in 锯子的情况. Here it refers to the circumstances or condition that the speaker needs to explain about the saw. It is useful when describing the state or details of a matter.

你你 means “you” in 你能解释一下. It refers to the person being asked for an explanation. Use it when directly addressing one person.

能能 means “can” or “be able to” in 你能解释一下. It introduces the ability or possibility of carrying out the explanation. It is commonly placed before an action when making a request.

解释解释 means “explain” in 解释一下. Here the listener is being asked to make the events clear. It can be followed by 一下 to make the request brief and less forceful.

一下一下 indicates that the action in 解释一下 will be brief or limited. It makes the request sound lighter rather than demanding a long explanation. It commonly follows a short action verb in a polite request.

发生发生 means “happen” or “occur” in 发生了什么. The question asks what event occurred. It is commonly used when asking about an event or problem.

了了 in 发生了什么 presents the event as something that occurred. It marks the event as relevant to the question about what happened. It follows the verb here rather than standing alone.

什么什么 means “what” in 发生了什么. It asks for the unspecified event that occurred. It is placed after the verb in this question.

吗吗 marks 你能解释一下发生了什么吗 as a yes-or-no question. It turns the preceding statement into a question asking whether the listener can explain it. It is placed at the end of the question.

锯锯 means “cut with a saw” in 锯厚木头. Here it is an action performed on the wood, not the noun “saw.” It is followed by the material being cut.

厚厚 means “thick” in 厚木头. It describes the wood that the speaker was cutting. It is placed before the noun it describes.

木头木头 means “wood” in 锯厚木头. It is the material being cut with the saw. It follows the descriptive word 厚 in this phrase.

时候时候 means “time” or “when” in 我锯厚木头的时候. The clause before 的时候 gives the time setting for the blade damage. Use this structure to describe what was happening when another event occurred.

锯片锯片 means “saw blade” in 锯片损坏了 and 换掉锯片. It is the part that was damaged and needs to be replaced. It can appear as the thing affected by damage or as the object of a replacement action.

损坏损坏 means “be damaged” in 锯片损坏了. Here it describes the condition that happened to the blade while the speaker was cutting wood. Use it when describing damage to an object.

对对 means “for” or “with regard to” in 对那把锯子来说. It introduces the point of reference used to judge the thickness of the wood. It is paired with 起来说 in this comparison structure.

来说来说 completes 对那把锯子来说, meaning “as far as that saw is concerned.” It frames the question from the saw’s capacity or suitability. The pattern 对……来说 is useful when giving an assessment from a particular point of view.

是不是是不是 asks whether something is the case or not in 是不是太厚了. It is made from 是, 不, and 是: the first 是 presents the possibility, 不 negates it, and the final 是 completes the alternative question pattern. Use it to ask directly whether a description or judgment is correct.

太太 means “too” or “excessively” in 太厚. It shows that the wood’s thickness may have exceeded what was suitable for the saw. It is placed before the describing word in this assessment.

可能可能 means “probably” or “possibly” in 可能是. The speaker uses it to give a likely answer rather than complete certainty. It can stand before 是 or another statement when expressing a possibility.

是是 in 可能是 means “is so” or “is the case.” It connects the possibility to the point being discussed: that the wood was probably too thick. It can be used after 可能 to give a short possible answer.

而且而且 means “and moreover” in 而且我本来应该先问一下. It adds the speaker’s second point: asking first should also have happened. Use it to connect an additional related statement.

本来本来 indicates what was originally expected or what should have been the case in 本来应该先问一下. Here it shows that asking first was the proper earlier action, although it did not happen. It commonly appears before a statement about an expected action or situation.

应该应该 means “should” or “ought to” in 应该先问一下. Together with 本来, it expresses that the speaker had a responsibility to ask before trying. It is placed before the action that is considered proper.

先先 means “first” or “beforehand” in 先问一下. It sets the order in which the actions should occur. It is placed before the earlier action in a sequence.

问问 means “ask” in 先问一下. The speaker says that asking should have happened before trying the saw. It is useful when requesting information or permission before an action.

再再 means “then” or “afterward” in 再试. It shows that trying should come after the earlier action of asking. It commonly appears before the later action in an ordered sequence.

试试 means “try” in 再试. Here it refers to trying to cut the thick wood with the saw. It is used after 再 to show the action that follows asking.

谢谢谢谢 means “thanks” or “thank you” in 谢谢你坦白告诉我. The speaker uses it to express appreciation for the other person’s honesty. It commonly comes before the person or action being thanked.

坦白坦白 means “frankly” or “openly” in 坦白告诉我. It describes the direct and honest way the information was given. It is useful when acknowledging that someone disclosed a problem instead of concealing it.

告诉告诉 means “tell” or “let someone know” in 坦白告诉我 and 告诉我一声. The person receiving the information follows it here as 我. Use it when communicating information to another person.

而而 in 而不是 connects two contrasting choices. Here it contrasts being upfront with hiding the matter. It is useful in a structure that presents one action instead of another.

不是不是 means “not be” and in 而不是藏起来 it introduces the action that did not happen. The complete contrast is “being upfront instead of hiding it.” It commonly follows 而 when rejecting one alternative in favor of another.

这这 means “this” in 这件事. It points to the specific matter of the damaged saw and the disclosure about it. It appears before the classifier 件 and noun 事.

件件 is the classifier in 这件事. It is used for this matter or event. It comes between the demonstrative 这 and the noun 事.

事事 means “matter” or “thing” in 这件事. Here it refers to the situation that could have been hidden. It follows the classifier 件 in this noun phrase.

藏藏 means “hide” in 藏起来. It describes keeping the matter out of sight or undisclosed. With 起来, it describes the resulting act of hiding it away.

起来起来 in 藏起来 indicates the resulting direction or state of putting something away. Here it completes 藏 and gives the meaning “hide it away.” It can follow an action verb when the result involves something being put into a resulting state.

可以可以 means “can” or “may” in 我可以安排维修. The speaker uses it to offer possible ways to deal with the damaged blade. It commonly comes before an action when giving permission, possibility, or an offer.

安排安排 means “arrange” in 安排维修. Here the speaker offers to organize the repair. It is followed by the repair work being arranged.

维修维修 means “repair” or “maintenance” in 安排维修. It refers to fixing the damaged tool or its parts. It functions here as the work that can be arranged.

或者或者 means “or” in 维修，或者换掉锯片. It connects two possible solutions: arranging a repair or replacing the blade. Use it when presenting alternatives.

换换 means “replace” in 换掉锯片 and 换好锯片. Here it describes removing the damaged blade and putting a replacement in its place. It is followed by the part being replaced.

掉掉 after 换 in 换掉锯片 indicates removal or replacement of the old blade. It emphasizes that the existing blade will be taken away as part of the action. It functions as a result complement after 换.

就就 in 就够了 presents the replacement as the direct sufficient result. It links replacing the blade with the conclusion that no further repair is needed. It commonly appears before a result or conclusion.

够够 means “be enough” in 应该就够了. Here replacing the blade should be sufficient to solve the problem. It is used when evaluating whether an action or amount meets the need.

今天今天 means “today” in 我今天会把这件事处理好. It sets the time by which the speaker promises to deal with the matter. It can be placed before the action being scheduled.

会会 means “will” in 我今天会把这件事处理好. It expresses the speaker’s future intention or commitment to handle the matter today. It is placed before the planned action.

处理处理 means “handle” or “deal with” in 把这件事处理好. Here it refers to taking care of the matter of the damaged saw. It is used with the matter being handled and 好 showing the intended completed result.

好好 after 处理 in 处理好 indicates that the matter will be handled properly and brought to a satisfactory result. It completes the meaning of the action rather than describing the matter itself. It can follow an action verb when the result is successful or finished.

带带 means “bring” in 把锯子带回来. The speaker is expected to bring the saw back to the shared space. It is followed by the object being brought and 回来 showing the return direction.

回来回来 means “come back” or “bring back” in 带回来. Here it shows that the saw returns to the place or person being addressed. It follows 带 to express movement back toward the reference point.

之前之前 means “before” in 你把锯子带回来之前. The clause before it sets the event that must happen before the saw is brought back. It is useful after an action or event when setting a deadline or sequence.

换好换好 means “replace and finish the replacement” in 换好锯片后. 好 shows that the replacement should be completed before the next action. It is used here to specify the completed replacement of the blade.

后后 means “after” in 换好锯片后. It marks the time after the blade replacement is finished. It follows the action phrase that must happen first.

声声 in 告诉我一声 indicates a brief notice or quick word. The speaker asks to be informed when the blade has been replaced, without requiring a long explanation. It is commonly used in this expression when requesting a short notification.

Grammar Points

可能 + 动词短语

可能先换锯片。

kěnéng xiān huàn jùpiàn

We may replace the saw blade first.

可能 comes before the verb phrase to express possibility; 先 places the first action before another implied action.

动词 + 了

锯片损坏了。

jùpiàn sǔnhuài le

The saw blade has been damaged.

了 after the verb marks a completed event or a newly changed situation.

Chinese Vocabulary

发生 verb

fāshēng happen

发生了什么

厚 adj

hòu thick

厚木头

解释 verb

jiěshì explain

解释一下

借 verb

jiè borrow

我借的那把锯子

锯片 noun

jùpiàn saw blade

换掉锯片

锯子 noun

jùzi saw

那把锯子

可能 adv

kěnéng probably; possibly

可能是

情况 noun

qíngkuàng situation; circumstances

锯子的情况

如实 adv

rúshí truthfully

如实说明

说明 verb

shuōmíng explain; state

如实说明情况

损坏 verb

sǔnhuài be damaged; damage 损坏了

锯片损坏了

先 adv

xiān first; beforehand

先问一下

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

probably; possibly

Show Answer

可能

saw

Show Answer

锯子

situation; circumstances

Show Answer

情况

saw blade

Show Answer

锯片