餐具 – Cānjù
Text Translation Below
The following text translation breaks down each word individually so you can follow along with the audio or use it as a quick reference.
Phrase Dictionary
- 你能把餐具放在餐桌上吗？ (Nǐ néng bǎ cānjù fàng zài cānzhuō shàng ma?): Can you please set the cutlery on the dining table?
- 你 (Nǐ): you
- 能 (néng): can, be able to
- 把 (bǎ): (preposition used to shift the object to before the verb)
- 餐具 (cānjù): cutlery, tableware
- 餐 (cān): meal, food
- 具 (jù): tool, utensil
- 放 (fàng): put, place
- 在 (zài): in, at
- 餐桌 (cānzhuō): dining table
- 餐 (cān): meal, food
- 桌 (zhuō): table
- 上 (shàng): on, above
- 吗 (ma): (question particle)
Phrases and Translations
- 你能把餐具放在餐桌上吗？
- English: Can you please set the cutlery on the dining table?
- Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ cānjù fàng zài cānzhuō shàng ma?
Words of Interest
The preposition “把 (bǎ)” in Mandarin Chinese is used to construct a sentence structure that emphasizes the action taken upon an object or the outcome of that action. Here’s a clearer definition:
- 把 (bǎ): A preposition that introduces the object of a verb early in the sentence, shifting the focus to the handling or treatment of that object. It is often used when the speaker wants to highlight the result of an action or the manner in which an action is performed.
In a sentence using the “把” structure, the object is placed immediately after “把,” followed by the verb and any additional information about the action. This structure is particularly common when the action has a definite outcome or when the speaker wants to draw attention to the impact of the action on the object.
For example:
- 请把门关上。 (Qǐng bǎ mén guān shàng.) – Please close the door. (The focus is on the action of closing the door.)
- 我把书放在桌子上了。 (Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le.) – I put the book on the table. (The focus is on the placement of the book.)
In these examples, “把” highlights the action being taken on the object (the door or the book) and its outcome (the door being closed or the book being placed on the table).