About This Lesson
Use Cleaning Up a Shared Common Room to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
活动结束后，公共休息室看起来很乱。
Huódòng jiéshù hòu, gōnggòng xiūxíshì kàn qǐlái hěn luàn. The common room looks messy after the event.
B
我们需要把这里打扫干净，因为是我们预订的。
Wǒmen xūyào bǎ zhèlǐ dǎsǎo gānjìng, yīnwèi shì wǒmen yùdìng de. We need to clean it because we reserved it.
A
我们用一张清单吧，这样就不会漏掉任何事情。
Wǒmen yòng yì zhāng qīngdān ba, zhèyàng jiù bú huì lòudiào rènhé shìqing. Let's use a checklist so we don't miss anything.
B
我可以收拾垃圾，你可以把椅子放回原位。
Wǒ kěyǐ shōushi lājī, nǐ kěyǐ bǎ yǐzi fàng huí yuánwèi. I can collect the trash, and you can put the chairs back.
A
桌子要摆回原来的样子吗？
Zhuōzi yào bǎi huí yuánlái de yàngzi ma? Should the tables go back the way they were?
B
下一组人会希望这里保持平常的布置。
Xià yì zǔ rén huì xīwàng zhèlǐ bǎochí píngcháng de bùzhì. The next group will expect the usual setup.
A
我也会检查有没有人落下个人物品。
Wǒ yě huì jiǎnchá yǒu méiyǒu rén làxià gèrén wùpǐn. I'll also check whether anyone left personal items behind.
B
充电器和笔记本很容易忘记带走。
Chōngdiànqì hé bǐjìběn hěn róngyì wàngjì dàizǒu. Chargers and notebooks are easy to forget.
A
房间现在看起来准备好了。
Fángjiān xiànzài kàn qǐlái zhǔnbèi hǎo le. The room looks ready now.
B
保持这里干净，应该会更容易再次预订。
Bǎochí zhèlǐ gānjìng, yīnggāi huì gèng róngyì zàicì yùdìng. Leaving it clean should make it easier to book again.Word by Word
活动
In “活动结束后”, “活动” means the event that has taken place in the common room. It commonly appears before “结束” to identify what has finished, such as in “活动结束后” when explaining what happens afterward.
结束
In “活动结束后”, “结束” means that the event finishes. The pattern “事情结束后” is used to say what happens after an event, task, or period ends.
后
In “活动结束后”, “后” means after the preceding event or action. It follows a time expression, as in “活动结束后”, to introduce a later action or situation.
公共
In “公共休息室”, “公共” describes a place shared by members of the public or a group rather than belonging to one person. It commonly comes before a place noun to describe a shared facility.
休息室
In “公共休息室”, “休息室” means a room where people can rest or spend time between activities. It is used as a place noun, and “公共” specifies that the room is shared.
看起来
In “看起来很乱” and “看起来准备好了”, “看起来” means to look or seem a certain way based on what can be observed. “看” contributes the idea of looking, while “起来” forms the appearance or impression expressed by the whole construction. A common pattern is “看起来 + description”.
很
In “很乱”, “很” strengthens the description of the room as messy. It commonly comes before a descriptive word in a pattern such as “很 + description”, especially when describing how something appears.
乱
In “看起来很乱”, “乱” means messy or disordered. It describes the room after the event, and it can be reused after “看起来” to describe an observed condition.
我们
In “我们需要” and “是我们预订的”, “我们” refers to the speaker and the other people responsible for the room. It can be the subject of an action or identify whose action something was, as in “我们预订的”.
需要
In “我们需要把这里打扫干净”, “需要” means need to do something. It is followed by an action, and the pattern “需要 + action” is useful when stating a task that is necessary.
把
In “把这里打扫干净” and “把椅子放回原位”, “把” marks the object that will be handled and changed by the action. A common pattern is “把 + object + action/result”, used when focusing on what happens to that object.
这里
In “把这里打扫干净”, “这里” means this place or here, referring to the common room. It can be used as the place being cleaned or changed, especially after “把” in this sentence.
打扫
In “打扫干净”, “打扫” means to clean the place. It is followed by “干净” to show the desired result, giving the reusable pattern “打扫 + place + 干净” when describing cleaning a place completely.
干净
In “打扫干净”, “干净” expresses the clean result that the room should reach. It follows “打扫” to show that the cleaning is done to a clean state, and it can also describe a place that is already clean.
因为
In “因为是我们预订的”, “因为” introduces the reason for needing to clean the room. It commonly comes before a reason that explains the statement before or after it.
是
In “因为是我们预订的”, “是” identifies the room as the one connected with the reservation made by the speakers. It links the understood place with “我们预订的”, a useful pattern when identifying who is responsible for something.
预订
In “我们预订的” and “再次预订”, “预订” means to reserve or book a place in advance. It can be followed by the reserved place, or by “的” when the reservation identifies an understood place.
的
In “我们预订的”, “的” connects the preceding action “我们预订” with the understood place being identified. This pattern is used when saying that something is the place or item associated with a particular action.
用
In “用一张清单”, “用” means use and introduces the tool used for the task. The common pattern “用 + tool or object + action” explains what someone uses to accomplish something.
一
In “一张清单”, “一” gives the quantity one and corresponds to “a” in this context. It comes before the classifier “张” and the noun “清单” in the pattern “一 + classifier + noun”.
张
In “一张清单”, “张” is the classifier used for the flat checklist. It appears between the number “一” and the noun, forming “一张清单” for one checklist.
清单
In “一张清单”, “清单” means a list used to check tasks or items. Here it is the tool for making sure that no cleanup task is missed, and it can be used after a classifier such as “一张”.
吧
In “我们用一张清单吧”, “吧” marks the sentence as a suggestion. It is useful when proposing a shared action in a cooperative situation, such as deciding how to organize a task.
这样
In “这样就不会漏掉任何事情”, “这样” means in this way and refers to using a checklist. It commonly introduces the method or arrangement that leads to the result in the following clause.
就
In “这样就不会漏掉任何事情”, “就” marks the result that follows from using the checklist. It commonly appears after a condition or method and before the resulting action or situation.
不
In “不会漏掉任何事情”, “不” negates the following prediction or action. It is placed before “会” here to say that the speakers will not miss anything.
会
In “不会漏掉任何事情”, “会” expresses what is expected to happen under the stated arrangement. Together with “不”, it predicts that nothing will be missed, and “会 + action” is a common way to describe a likely future result.
漏掉
In “漏掉任何事情”, “漏掉” means miss or leave something out unintentionally. It can take the missed task or item as its object, as in the pattern “漏掉 + thing”.
任何
In “任何事情”, “任何” means any and gives the following noun an unrestricted meaning. In this negative sentence, it helps express that not a single task or matter will be missed.
事情
In “任何事情”, “事情” means a thing, matter, or task. Here it refers broadly to anything on the cleanup checklist, and it can follow “任何” to mean any matter.
我
In “我可以收拾垃圾” and “我也会检查”, “我” refers to the speaker. It is used as the subject when the speaker states a task they can do or will do.
可以
In “我可以收拾垃圾”, “可以” means can or be able to and presents the speaker as available to do the task. It commonly comes before an action in the pattern “可以 + action” when offering or describing ability.
收拾
In “收拾垃圾”, “收拾” means clean up or put things in order. It is used here for dealing with the trash after the event, and it can be followed by the object being cleaned up.
垃圾
In “收拾垃圾”, “垃圾” means trash or rubbish left after the event. It is the object of “收拾”, and the phrase is useful when assigning cleanup work.
你
In “你可以把椅子放回原位”, “你” refers to the person being addressed. It is the subject of the assigned action and can come before “可以” when giving that person a task or option.
椅子
In “把椅子放回原位”, “椅子” means the chairs that need to be returned to their places. It is the object marked by “把”, so the sentence focuses on changing the chairs’ position.
放回
In “把椅子放回原位”, “放回” means put something back where it belongs. It commonly takes an object and a destination, as in “放回 + place”, when restoring an item to its previous position.
原位
In “放回原位”, “原位” means the original place or position. It identifies the destination after “放回” when an object needs to be returned to where it was.
桌子
In “桌子要摆回原来的样子吗”, “桌子” means the tables in the room. It is the subject being discussed in a question about restoring the room’s arrangement.
要
In “桌子要摆回原来的样子吗”, “要” asks whether the tables should or need to be put back. The pattern “要 + action + 吗” can be used to ask whether an action is required.
摆回
In “摆回原来的样子”, “摆回” means arrange or place something back in its previous arrangement. It is used for furniture here and is followed by the arrangement or position to restore.
原来
In “原来的样子”, “原来” means original or previous. It modifies “样子” to refer to the way the tables were arranged before the event.
样子
In “原来的样子”, “样子” means the appearance or way something is arranged. Together with “原来的”, it identifies the previous state that the tables may need to return to.
吗
In “桌子要摆回原来的样子吗”, “吗” marks the sentence as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end when asking whether the proposed arrangement is required.
下
In “下一组人”, “下” means next or following. It comes before “一组人” to identify the group that will use the room after the current group.
组
In “下一组人”, “组” means a group or set of people. It identifies the people as one organized group and is followed by “人” here.
人
In “下一组人”, “人” refers to the people in the group. It completes the expression for the next group of users who will come to the room.
希望
In “下一组人会希望这里保持平常的布置”, “希望” expresses what the next group will want or expect from the room. It can be followed by a place or person and the situation they want to remain or occur.
保持
In “保持平常的布置”, “保持” means keep or maintain something in a particular condition. It is followed by the condition or arrangement to be preserved, making “保持 + condition” a useful pattern.
平常
In “平常的布置”, “平常” means usual or ordinary. It describes the arrangement that the next group expects to find, and it can modify a noun with “的”.
布置
In “平常的布置”, “布置” means the setup or arrangement of the room. It refers here to how the furniture is placed, and it can be modified by “平常的” to describe the usual setup.
也
In “我也会检查”, “也” means also and adds another task for the speaker. It usually comes before the action to show that this action is included in addition to one already mentioned.
检查
In “检查有没有人落下个人物品”, “检查” means check or inspect. It is followed by the matter being investigated, and the pattern “检查 + whether-clause” is useful when looking for a possible problem.
有没有
In “有没有人落下个人物品”, “有没有” asks whether something exists or has happened. It combines “有”, which presents the possibility of something being present, with “没有”, which presents its absence; the whole construction is followed by the person or thing being checked.
落下
In “有人落下个人物品”, “落下” means leave something behind unintentionally. It takes the forgotten item as its object and is useful when checking places after people have left.
个人
In “个人物品”, “个人” means personal or belonging to an individual. It modifies “物品” to distinguish the items from shared equipment or room furnishings.
物品
In “个人物品”, “物品” means an item or belonging. Here it refers to things that someone may have left in the room, and “个人” specifies whose kind of items are being checked.
充电器
In “充电器和笔记本”, “充电器” means a charger. It is one of the personal items that can be forgotten in the room, and it can be joined to another noun with “和”.
和
In “充电器和笔记本”, “和” connects the charger and the notebook as two items in the same list. It commonly joins nouns or noun phrases when listing objects together.
笔记本
In “充电器和笔记本”, “笔记本” means a notebook. It is listed with “充电器” as a personal item that someone may forget to take away.
容易
In “容易忘记带走”, “容易” means easy to or likely to, describing a tendency for the action to happen. The pattern “容易 + action” is used for things that commonly happen without much difficulty or are easy to do accidentally.
忘记
In “忘记带走”, “忘记” means forget. It is followed by “带走” to specify the action that someone fails to remember, giving the reusable pattern “忘记 + action”.
带走
In “忘记带走”, “带走” means take something away from the current place. Here it refers to taking personal items out of the room after the event, and it can follow “忘记” when someone fails to remember that action.
房间
In “房间现在看起来准备好了”, “房间” means the room being cleaned and reset. It is the subject whose current condition is described, and it can be followed by “看起来” to state how it appears.
现在
In “现在看起来准备好了”, “现在” means now and locates the room’s condition at the present moment. It commonly comes before the action or description that applies at this time.
准备
In “准备好了”, “准备” contributes the idea of being prepared or made ready. Together with “好”, it describes the room as ready for the next group, and “准备好” is a common expression for reaching readiness.
好
In “准备好了”, “好” marks the satisfactory result of becoming ready. After “准备”, it shows that the preparation is complete, as in describing a room that is ready to use.
了
In “准备好了”, “了” marks the changed state that now holds: the room has become ready. It is placed at the end of the description to show that the preparation has reached this result.
应该
In “应该会更容易再次预订”, “应该” expresses an expectation that the result will probably occur. It commonly comes before “会” and an action when making a reasonable prediction rather than giving a direct instruction.
更
In “更容易”, “更” means more and compares the expected booking process with an earlier or alternative situation. It comes before the description being increased, forming the pattern “更 + description”.
再次
In “再次预订”, “再次” means again or another time. It comes before the action “预订” to say that the room may be booked again after it is left clean.
Grammar Points
容易 + 动词
个人物品容易落下。
Gèrén wùpǐn róngyì làxià.Personal items are easy to leave behind.
“容易” before a verb means something is likely or easy to happen; it functions as a degree adjective modifying the action.
Chinese Vocabulary
打扫干净
verb
dǎsǎo gānjìng
to clean thoroughly
公共休息室
noun
gōnggòng xiūxíshì
common room
很乱
adj
hěn luàn
messy
活动
noun
huódòng
event; activity
结束
verb
jiéshù
to end; to finish
看起来
verb
kàn qǐlái
to look; to seem
漏掉
verb
lòudiào
to miss; to leave out
清单
noun
qīngdān
checklist
需要
verb
xūyào
to need
因为
conj
yīnwèi
because
预订
verb
yùdìng
to reserve; to book
这样
adv
zhèyàng
in this way; so
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
common room
Show Answer
公共休息室to clean thoroughly
Show Answer
打扫干净to reserve; to book
Show Answer
预订event; activity