How to read this page: Line 1 = Chinese characters. Line 2 = pinyin (lined up character-by-character above each word). Line 3 = English meaning of the whole sentence, with the matching key word marked in (parentheses). Words in a pink box are this lesson's key vocabulary. Tap the 🔊 button to hear it read aloud — in the dialogue, speaker A and speaker B are read in two different voices.
📖 Text
Read the story once for the general idea, then go through it again line by line.
A ：zhuō桌zi子shang上yǒu有shén什me么 ？
A: What's on the (desk)?
B ：zhuō桌zi子shang上yǒu有yí一gè个diàn电nǎo脑hé和yī一běn本shū书 。
B: There's a (computer) (and) a (book) on it.
A ：bēi杯zi子zài在nǎ哪ér儿 ？
A: Where is the cup?
B ：bēi杯zi子zài在zhuō桌zi子li里 。
B: It's (inside) the desk.
A ：qián前miàn面nà那ge个rén人jiào叫shén什me么míng名zì字 ？
A: What's the name of the person in (front)?
B ：tā她jiào叫wáng王fāng方 ，zài在yī医yuàn院gōng工zuò作 。
B: She's Wang Fang — she works at a hospital.
A ：hòu后miàn面nà那ge个rén人ne呢 ？tā他jiào叫shén什me么míng名zì字 ？
A: What about the person in (back)? What's his name?
B ：tā他jiào叫xiè谢péng朋 ，zài在shāng商diàn店gōng工zuò作 。
B: He's Xie Peng — he works at a store.
A ：zhè这ér儿yǒu有rén人ma吗 ？
A: Is there anyone (here)?
B ：méi没yǒu有 。
B: (No), there isn't.
A ：wǒ我néng能zuò坐zhè这ér儿ma吗 ？
A: (Can) I (sit) here?
B ：qǐng请zuò坐 。
B: Please, go ahead.
📋 Key Vocabulary
Each word shows the part of speech, meaning, and an extra example sentence.
桌子noun
desk, table
桌子上有一本书。
There's a book on the desk.
There's a book on the desk.
上noun
up, above, on
桌子上有什么？
What's on the desk?
What's on the desk?
电脑noun
computer
桌子上有一个电脑。
There's a computer on the desk.
There's a computer on the desk.
和conj.
and
我有电脑和书。
I have a computer and a book.
I have a computer and a book.
本m.
a measure word for books
一本书
one book
one book
里noun
inner, inside, interior
杯子在桌子里。
The cup is inside the desk.
The cup is inside the desk.
前面noun
front
前面那个人是谁？
Who is the person in front?
Who is the person in front?
后面noun
back
后面那个人叫什么名字？
What's the name of the person in back?
What's the name of the person in back?
这儿pron.
here
这儿有人吗？
Is there anyone here?
Is there anyone here?
没有adv.
there is not
这儿没有人。
There's no one here.
There's no one here.
能mod.
can, may
我能坐这儿吗？
Can I sit here?
Can I sit here?
坐verb
to sit, to be seated
请坐。
Please sit down.
Please sit down.
🧩 Grammar Focus
Structures from this story worth practicing.
① 有-sentences — saying something exists somewhere
"有" 字句：表示存在
Place + 有 + Person/Thing
To say something exists in a place, state the location first, then 有, then what's there. Negative: replace 有 with 没有, and drop any number-measure word before the object.
桌子上有一个电脑和一本书。
Zhuōzi shang yǒu yí ge diànnǎo hé yì běn shū.
There's a computer and a book on the desk.
② 和 — connecting parallel items
连词 "和"
A + 和 + B
和 works like "and" in English, joining two or more nouns or noun phrases of equal standing.
桌子上有一个电脑和一本书。
Zhuōzi shang yǒu yí ge diànnǎo hé yì běn shū.
There's a computer and a book on the desk.
③ 能 — ability, possibility, and asking permission
能愿动词 "能"
Subject + 能 + Verb (+ 吗?)
能 goes before a verb to express ability or possibility. In the pattern 能…吗?, it's the standard polite way to ask for permission.
我能坐这儿吗？
Wǒ néng zuò zhèr ma?
Can I sit here?
④ Imperative sentences with 请
用 "请" 的祈使句
请 + Verb
Putting 请 before a verb turns the sentence into a polite request or suggestion — like "please" in English.
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please, sit down.
⭐ Key Sentences
Practice saying these sentences out loud. Try covering the English and translating from Chinese yourself.
桌子上有一个电脑和一本书。
Zhuōzi shang yǒu yí ge diànnǎo hé yì běn shū.
There's a computer and a book on the desk.
杯子在桌子里。
Bēizi zài zhuōzi li.
The cup is inside the desk.
我能坐这儿吗？
Wǒ néng zuò zhèr ma?
Can I sit here?
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please, sit down.
✅ Quick Check
Answer in your head, then check with your teacher.
1. What two things are on the desk (dialogue 1)?
2. Where is the cup?
3. What is the job of the person in front (dialogue 2)?
4. How does A politely ask to sit down?
桌子上有什么？Look around you and describe it in Chinese! 🪑
