About This Lesson
Use Improving office recycling practices to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
我们办公室里有回收箱，但大家似乎有些困惑。
Wǒmen bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu huíshōuxiāng, dàn dàjiā sìhū yǒuxiē kùnhuò. We have recycling bins in the office, but people seem confused.
B
这些标签可能太模糊了，不适合日常使用。
Zhèxiē biāoqiān kěnéng tài móhu le, bú shìhé rìcháng shǐyòng. The labels are probably too vague for daily use.
A
我们应该让垃圾分类规则更简单、更醒目。
Wǒmen yīnggāi ràng lèsè fēnlèi guīzé gèng jiǎndān, gèng xǐngmù. We should make sorting rules simpler and more visible.
B
在回收箱附近放一些图示范例可以减少错误。
Zài huíshōuxiāng fùjìn fàng yìxiē túshì fànlì kěyǐ jiǎnshǎo cuòwù. Visual examples near the bins would reduce mistakes.
A
我还觉得，我们应该少订一些一次性用品。
Wǒ hái juéde, wǒmen yīnggāi shǎo dìng yìxiē yícìxìng yòngpǐn. I also think fewer disposable supplies should be ordered.
B
这需要调整采购方式，不能只靠提醒。
Zhè xūyào tiáozhěng cǎigòu fāngshì, bùnéng zhǐ kào tíxǐng. That requires procurement changes, not just reminders.
A
我们能不能先从容易找到替代品的物品开始？
Wǒmen néng bu néng xiān cóng róngyì zhǎodào tìdàipǐn de wùpǐn kāishǐ? Could we start with items that have easy alternatives?
B
这样可以减少这项改变带来的干扰。
Zhèyàng kěyǐ jiǎnshǎo zhè xiàng gǎibiàn dàilái de gānrǎo. That would make the change less disruptive.Word by Word
我们
「我们」 means we or our, referring to the speaker together with others. In 「我们办公室里」 it identifies the office as shared by the group; use it when describing a group’s place, action, or responsibility.
办公室
「办公室」 means office, the workplace mentioned in the dialogue. It can name a place after a possessive expression such as 「我们办公室」 and can be followed by 「里」 to locate something inside it.
里
「里」 means inside or in and places something within the location before it. In 「办公室里」 it shows that the recycling bins are inside the office; use it after a place when emphasizing an interior location.
有
「有」 states that something exists in a place here, so 「办公室里有回收箱」 means there are recycling bins in the office. It is useful for presenting what is present in a location.
回收箱
「回收箱」 means recycling bin, the container discussed in the office. It is the object introduced after 「有」 and can be used when discussing where recyclable materials are placed.
但
「但」 means but and introduces a contrast between the existence of recycling bins and people’s confusion. It commonly links a preceding fact with an opposing or unexpected point.
大家
「大家」 means everyone or everybody in the group being discussed. Here it refers to the people in the office; use it when addressing or describing a whole group rather than one person.
似乎
「似乎」 means seem or appear to and signals that the speaker is making an impression rather than stating direct certainty. In 「大家似乎有些困惑」 it softens the observation; use it before a description or judgment based on appearances.
有些
「有些」 means somewhat or a little here and limits the degree of 「困惑」. It is useful before a feeling or quality when the speaker wants to express a moderate amount rather than an extreme.
困惑
「困惑」 means confused or puzzled in this dialogue, describing the people’s reaction to the recycling system. It can describe a person or group experiencing uncertainty about how to understand or act.
这些
「这些」 means these and points to the labels being discussed. It comes before 「标签」 to identify particular items that are near or relevant to the conversation; use it before a plural or grouped noun.
标签
「标签」 means labels, specifically the labels on the recycling bins. It is the object being judged as unclear and can be discussed when information is attached to or displayed on an item.
可能
「可能」 means may or probably here and presents the speaker’s explanation as likely rather than certain. In 「可能太模糊」 it comes before the judgment; use it to qualify a possibility or tentative conclusion.
太
「太」 means too and shows that 「模糊」 exceeds the level suitable for the intended use. It commonly comes before a quality when describing an excessive degree.
模糊
「模糊」 means vague or unclear here, describing labels that do not give sufficiently clear guidance. It can describe information, wording, or visual distinctions that are difficult to understand.
了
「了」 in 「太模糊了」 presents the description of the labels as an established current assessment. Here it closes the judgment that the labels are too vague; its contribution is tied to the whole statement rather than a separate English word.
不
「不」 means not and negates the suitability described in 「不适合日常使用」. It normally appears directly before the expression being negated, as it does before 「适合」 here.
适合
「适合」 means be suitable for, and here says that the labels are not suitable for daily use. It is followed by the purpose or activity that something is suitable for, such as 「日常使用」.
日常
「日常」 means daily or everyday and specifies ordinary recurring use. In 「日常使用」 it modifies 「使用」 to describe the regular workplace activity for which the labels should work.
使用
「使用」 means use or usage here, referring to using the labels in ordinary work. In 「日常使用」 it names the activity that something may or may not be suitable for; use it for the practical use of an object or system.
应该
「应该」 means should and introduces a recommendation about what the group ought to do. In 「我们应该让」 it comes before the proposed action; use it when advising or stating an expected course of action.
让
「让」 means make here and introduces the result the speakers want to produce in the sorting rules. In 「让垃圾分类规则更简单」 it is followed by the affected thing and its desired quality; use it for causing or allowing a change in condition.
垃圾
「垃圾」 means garbage or waste and identifies the material being sorted. In 「垃圾分类」 it combines with 「分类」 to specify sorting waste; use it when discussing waste handling or disposal.
分类
「分类」 means sorting or classification here, specifically separating garbage into categories. In 「垃圾分类规则」 it describes the activity governed by the rules; use it when materials or items are organized by type.
规则
「规则」 means rules, here the instructions for sorting garbage. It is the object made simpler and more noticeable, and it can be followed by descriptions of how those instructions work.
更
「更」 means more or even more and marks an increase in the following quality. In 「更简单、更醒目」 it compares the desired rules with their current state; use it before an adjective when proposing or describing improvement.
简单
「简单」 means simple here, describing sorting rules that are easier to understand and follow. It appears after 「更」 in 「更简单」; use it for procedures, explanations, or tasks that do not require much complexity.
醒目
「醒目」 means conspicuous or easy to notice, describing sorting rules that stand out visibly. In 「更醒目」 it specifies a visual improvement; use it for signs, labels, or other information that should attract attention.
在
「在」 introduces the location 「回收箱附近」 where the visual examples would be placed. It commonly comes before a place phrase to establish where an action or object is situated.
附近
「附近」 means nearby or the vicinity, referring to the area close to the recycling bins. In 「回收箱附近」 it follows the reference point and identifies where the examples should be placed.
放
「放」 means put or place, describing the proposed placement of visual examples. In 「在回收箱附近放一些图示范例」 it takes the examples as its object; use it when putting an object in a location.
一些
「一些」 means some and indicates an unspecified amount of the visual examples. It comes before 「图示范例」; use it when the exact quantity is not important or is not given.
图示
「图示」 means visual illustration or diagram and identifies the visual nature of the examples. In 「图示范例」 it modifies 「范例」; use it for information shown through pictures or diagrams.
范例
「范例」 means example or model example, referring to examples that show how sorting should be done. It is modified by 「图示」 and can be used when an example is intended to guide correct action.
可以
「可以」 means can or be able to here and presents a possible effect of placing visual examples nearby. In 「可以减少错误」 it comes before the resulting action; use it to state that an action is possible or can produce a result.
减少
「减少」 means reduce and describes lowering the number of mistakes. In 「减少错误」 it is followed by the thing being reduced; use it for decreasing an amount, frequency, or number.
错误
「错误」 means mistakes or errors, referring to incorrect sorting decisions. It is the object of 「减少」; use it when discussing incorrect actions, answers, or results.
我
「我」 means I or me and identifies the speaker who adds another proposal. In 「我还觉得」 it is the subject of the opinion; use it when expressing your own view or experience.
还
「还」 means also or additionally here and adds another point to the earlier discussion. In 「我还觉得」 it appears before the opinion; use it to introduce an additional thought or action.
觉得
「觉得」 means think or feel and introduces the speaker’s personal assessment. In 「我还觉得」 it is followed by a complete opinion; use it when stating what you think about a situation or proposal.
少
「少」 means fewer or less here and describes a smaller quantity of disposable supplies to be ordered. In 「少订一些」 it modifies the amount of the ordering action; use it when proposing a reduction in quantity.
订
「订」 means order, referring to ordering supplies for the office. In 「订一些一次性用品」 it takes the supplies as its object; use it for requesting or arranging goods in advance.
一次性
「一次性」 means disposable or single-use and describes supplies intended for one use. In 「一次性用品」 it modifies 「用品」; use it before an item when discussing products that are discarded after use.
用品
「用品」 means supplies or articles used for a practical purpose, here office supplies. In 「一次性用品」 it is modified by the type of supply; use it for grouped items needed for work or daily activities.
这
「这」 means this or that in 「这需要」 and points back to the proposal just discussed. It refers to the preceding idea as a whole; use it to connect a current statement with an immediately relevant matter.
需要
「需要」 means need or require and states that procurement changes are necessary. In 「需要调整采购方式」 it is followed by the required action; use it to identify a condition or action that is necessary.
调整
「调整」 means adjust or change, referring to modifying the way procurement is handled. It takes 「采购方式」 as its object; use it when making a planned modification to an existing method or arrangement.
采购
「采购」 means procurement or purchasing and identifies the activity of obtaining supplies for the organization. In 「采购方式」 it modifies 「方式」 to specify the method of purchasing; use it in workplace discussions about obtaining goods.
方式
「方式」 means method or way, here the method used for procurement. In 「采购方式」 it forms a phrase naming how purchasing is carried out; use it after an activity to discuss its method.
不能
「不能」 means cannot or must not here and rejects the idea that reminders alone are sufficient. In 「不能只靠提醒」 it comes before the restricted action; use it to state that an action is not possible, sufficient, or acceptable in context.
只
「只」 means only or merely and limits the proposed reliance to reminders. In 「只靠提醒」 it comes before 「靠」; use it to show that no other support or measure is included.
靠
「靠」 means rely on or depend on, identifying reminders as the sole support in 「只靠提醒」. It is followed by the thing relied upon; use it when describing dependence on a person, resource, or method.
提醒
「提醒」 means reminders here, referring to prompts that tell people what to do. In 「靠提醒」 it functions as the support people would rely on; use it when discussing notices or actions intended to help someone remember.
能不能
「能不能」 asks whether something is possible and means could we or can we in this proposal. The repeated 「能」 frames the possibility and 「不」 placed between the two 「能」 forms an affirmative-negative question; in 「能不能先从」 it politely asks about a proposed starting point.
先
「先」 means first and places the proposed starting action before later steps. In 「先从容易找到替代品的物品开始」 it signals a staged approach; use it when deciding what to do before something else.
从
「从」 means from or starting with and marks the items chosen as the starting point. In 「从……开始」 it introduces where an action begins; use it to name a starting place, time, or group of items.
容易
「容易」 means easy or easily here and describes finding alternatives as requiring relatively little difficulty. In 「容易找到替代品」 it comes before the action result; use it to describe an action that can be carried out without much difficulty.
找到
「找到」 means find, with the focus on locating an alternative that is available. In 「找到替代品」 it takes the alternative as its object; use it when an action results in locating or identifying something needed.
替代品
「替代品」 means alternative or substitute, referring to another product that could replace an item. In 「找到替代品」 it is the object being located; use it when discussing a replacement for an existing product or method.
的
「的」 links the preceding description to the noun that follows. In 「容易找到替代品的物品」 it turns the description about finding alternatives into a modifier of 「物品」; use it to connect a defining phrase with a noun.
物品
「物品」 means items or goods, referring to the supplies selected for the first stage of the change. It is modified by 「容易找到替代品的」; use it for physical objects considered individually or as a group.
开始
「开始」 means start or begin and marks the action’s starting point in 「从……开始」. Here it completes the proposal to begin with items that have easy alternatives; use it when specifying the first step of a process.
这样
「这样」 means this way or in this manner and refers back to the proposed approach of starting with easily replaceable items. In 「这样可以」 it connects that approach with its expected benefit; use it to refer to a method just described.
项
「项」 is a classifier for an item, measure, or change, and 「这项改变」 treats the change as one defined measure. Use it when counting or identifying a particular project, action, or change.
改变
「改变」 means change, referring to the proposed shift in workplace purchasing and supplies. In 「这项改变」 it names the measure whose effect is being considered; use it for a change to a situation, plan, or practice.
带来
「带来」 means bring or cause, and in 「改变带来的干扰」 it describes the disruption caused by the change. It commonly links an action or event with an effect that it produces.
干扰
「干扰」 means disruption or interference, referring to the unwanted disturbance caused by implementing the change. In 「减少这项改变带来的干扰」 it is the effect to be reduced; use it when a process or activity interrupts normal work.
Grammar Points
形容词 + 的 + 名词
醒目的标签
xǐngmù de biāoqiāna prominent label
“的”连接形容词和名词，表示名词具有前面形容词所描述的特征。
地点 + 附近
办公室附近
bàngōngshì fùjìnnear the office
表示“附近”时，中文通常把地点放在“附近”前面；英语则把 near 放在地点前面。
Chinese Vocabulary
办公室
noun
bàngōngshì
office
标签
noun
biāoqiān
label
附近
noun
fùjìn
nearby; vicinity
规则
noun
guīzé
rule
回收箱
noun
huíshōuxiāng
recycling bin
简单
adj
jiǎndān
simple
困惑
adj
kùnhuò
confused
垃圾分类
noun
lèsè fēnlèi
waste sorting
模糊
adj
móhu
vague
日常使用
phrase
rìcháng shǐyòng
daily use
图示范例
noun
túshì fànlì
visual example
醒目
adj
xǐngmù
easy to notice; prominent
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
waste sorting
Show Answer
垃圾分类daily use
Show Answer
日常使用visual example
Show Answer
图示范例label