When we talk about cleaning a table in Chinese, the most common and practical phrase you'll hear is 擦桌子 (cā zhuōzi). This literally means 'to wipe the table'.
The verb 擦 (cā) is very versatile. You can use it for wiping many things, not just tables. For example, you can 擦玻璃 (cā bōli) to wipe glass, or 擦汗 (cā hàn) to wipe sweat. It implies a wiping or rubbing motion to clean something.
So, if you want to say you are cleaning a table, 擦桌子 is the perfect phrase to use. It's direct, clear, and exactly what a native speaker would say.
When we talk about cleaning a table in Chinese, the most common and practical way to express it is by using 擦桌子 (cā zhuō zi). This literally translates to "wipe table."
It’s a direct and everyday phrase you’ll hear and use frequently. Don't overthink it; if you're cleaning a table, you're 擦桌子.
Guide de prononciation
- confusing 'c' with 'ch'
- not articulating the 'z' sound correctly
Teste-toi 48 questions
Which of these means 'to wipe the table'?
擦桌子 (cā zhuō zi) means 'to wipe the table'. 看书 (kàn shū) is 'to read a book', 吃饭 (chī fàn) is 'to eat a meal', and 睡觉 (shuì jiào) is 'to sleep'.
What is the English meaning of 擦桌子?
擦桌子 (cā zhuō zi) literally means 'to wipe' (擦) 'table' (桌子).
我 ___。
The most appropriate action to complete the sentence 'I ___' among the choices is '擦桌子' (cā zhuō zi), meaning 'to wipe the table'.
擦桌子 means 'to wipe the table'.
Yes, 擦桌子 (cā zhuō zi) is the correct way to say 'to wipe the table' in Chinese.
擦桌子 means 'to write a letter'.
No, 擦桌子 (cā zhuō zi) means 'to wipe the table'. 'To write a letter' would be 写信 (xiě xìn).
The character 擦 (cā) means 'to wipe'.
That's right. The first character 擦 (cā) in 擦桌子 means 'to wipe' or 'to rub'.
Listen to the sentence and understand who is wiping the table.
Listen to the sentence and understand what the speaker can do.
Listen to the sentence and understand the instruction.
Read this aloud:
我擦桌子。
Focus: cā
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
他擦桌子。
Focus: tā
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
我们擦桌子。
Focus: wǒ men
Tu as dit :
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吃完饭，妈妈让我去____。
After eating, mom asked me to wipe the table. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
桌子很脏，你需要____。
The table is very dirty, you need to wipe the table. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
饭前____，保持卫生。
Wipe the table before meals to maintain hygiene. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
小明每天放学回家后，都会帮妈妈____。
Xiao Ming helps his mother wipe the table every day after school. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
请你用湿布____。
Please wipe the table with a wet cloth. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
服务员正在____，准备迎接客人。
The waiter is wiping the table, preparing to welcome guests. '擦桌子' (cā zhuōzi) means 'to wipe the table'.
Choose the correct action: 她正在___。
The context implies an action performed on a table, and '擦桌子' means 'to wipe the table'.
What would you use to '擦桌子'?
You use a cloth to wipe things, including a table.
If the table is dirty, what should you do?
When a table is dirty, the appropriate action is to wipe it clean.
When you are '擦桌子', you are cleaning the table.
'擦桌子' means to wipe the table, which is a form of cleaning.
You can '擦桌子' with your feet.
You typically use your hands and a cloth or sponge to wipe a table, not your feet.
If someone asks you to '擦桌子', they want you to sit at the table.
'擦桌子' means to wipe the table, not to sit at it.
This sentence means 'I wiped the table.' The subject comes first, followed by the verb '擦桌子' (to wipe the table), and '了' indicates completion.
This sentence means 'Please you wipe the table.' '请' (please) comes at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject '你' (you) and the verb '擦桌子' (to wipe the table).
This sentence means 'She is wiping the table.' '她' (she) is the subject, '正在' (in the process of) indicates an ongoing action, and '擦桌子' (to wipe the table) is the action.
Imagine you are helping out with chores at home. Describe three different surfaces you would wipe and why.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今天我帮妈妈做家务。我首先擦桌子，因为上面有很多灰尘。然后我擦厨房的台面，上面有水渍和食物残渣。最后，我擦卧室的窗台，让房间看起来更干净。
You are organizing a farewell party for a friend. Describe the steps you would take to prepare the venue, including cleaning the tables.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
为了给朋友举办一个难忘的告别派对，我首先会彻底打扫场地。然后，我会仔细擦桌子，确保它们一尘不染。接着，我会布置场地，挂上彩带和气球，营造欢乐的气氛。最后，我会摆放食物和饮料，等待朋友们的到来。
You are a hotel housekeeper. Describe your routine for cleaning a guest room, emphasizing the importance of wiping surfaces.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
作为酒店的客房服务员，我的日常工作是确保每间客房干净舒适。首先，我会整理床铺，更换干净的床单。接着，我会用消毒剂仔细擦桌子和其他所有表面，确保没有细菌。然后，我会打扫浴室，补充洗漱用品。最后，我会检查所有细节，确保客人有一个愉快的住宿体验。
小王为什么要擦桌子？
Read this passage:
小王每次吃完饭都会自觉地擦桌子。他说，保持桌面干净整洁不仅能让心情愉悦，还能避免食物残渣滋生细菌，对健康很有好处。他的家人也因此养成了饭后擦桌子的好习惯。
小王为什么要擦桌子？
文章中提到，擦桌子能让心情愉悦、避免滋生细菌，并且带动家人养成了好习惯。
文章中提到，擦桌子能让心情愉悦、避免滋生细菌，并且带动家人养成了好习惯。
根据文章，为什么让孩子参与擦桌子等家务？
Read this passage:
在中国的传统文化中，家庭成员共同参与家务劳动是一种美德。例如，孩子们从小就被教导要帮助父母擦桌子、扫地等。这不仅能培养他们的责任感，也能增进家庭成员之间的感情。
根据文章，为什么让孩子参与擦桌子等家务？
文章明确指出，这能培养他们的责任感，也能增进家庭成员之间的感情。
文章明确指出，这能培养他们的责任感，也能增进家庭成员之间的感情。
咖啡馆服务员擦桌子的深层意义是什么？
Read this passage:
咖啡馆的服务员每天在开店前都要擦桌子。他们不仅仅是把桌面擦干净，更重要的是通过这个动作，展现出对顾客的尊重和对卫生的重视。一个干净整洁的环境，能让顾客感到舒适和放心。
咖啡馆服务员擦桌子的深层意义是什么？
文章提到，擦桌子是为了展现出对顾客的尊重和对卫生的重视。
文章提到，擦桌子是为了展现出对顾客的尊重和对卫生的重视。
Choose the most appropriate synonym for "擦桌子" in a formal context.
抹拭 (mǒshì) is a more formal and refined term for 'to wipe' or 'to clean', often used in written language or formal settings, making 抹拭桌面 a suitable synonym in a formal context. 清理桌子 (qīnglǐ zhuōzi) means 'to tidy up the table,' which can involve wiping but also organizing. 搞卫生 (gǎo wèishēng) means 'to do hygiene' or 'to clean up' in a general sense. 弄干净 (nòng gānjìng) means 'to make clean,' which is a broader action.
Which of the following scenarios would most likely require a more thorough action than simply "擦桌子"?
Spilling juice all over the table implies a significant mess that would likely require not just wiping but also perhaps scrubbing or a more extensive cleaning process beyond the simple action of '擦桌子' (to wipe the table). The other options describe situations where a simple wiping action would generally suffice.
In a restaurant setting, if a waiter says, "我来帮您把这张桌子擦一下吧。" (Wǒ lái bāng nín bǎ zhè zhāng zhuōzi cā yīxià ba.), what is the implied nuance?
The phrase "擦一下" (cā yīxià) implies a quick, immediate action, and the offer from a waiter suggests that the table's current state is not ideal for the customer. While it can be a courtesy, in a service setting, it most often means the table's cleanliness is in question and requires attention. If the table were perfectly clean, the offer would be less common or phrased differently.
The action of "擦桌子" (cā zhuōzi) inherently implies the use of a wet cloth or cleaning agent.
While '擦桌子' often involves a wet cloth or cleaning agent, it can also refer to wiping with a dry cloth to remove dust or crumbs. The term itself doesn't exclusively specify the use of liquid.
If someone says, "请你把桌子擦干净。" (Qǐng nǐ bǎ zhuōzi cā gānjìng.), they are asking for the table to be wiped until it is thoroughly clean and free of visible marks.
The addition of '干净' (gānjìng, clean) after '擦' (cā, wipe) emphasizes the desired outcome of the action, meaning the wiping should result in a thoroughly clean table, free of any visible dirt or stains.
The phrase "擦桌子" (cā zhuōzi) can be metaphorically used to describe covering up a mistake or problem.
"擦桌子" (cā zhuōzi) is a literal action of wiping a table. There isn't a common metaphorical usage in Chinese to describe covering up a mistake. Phrases like 掩盖 (yǎngài, to cover up) or 遮掩 (zhēyǎn, to conceal) would be used for that.
This sentence means 'Please wipe the table clean.' The '把' structure is common for moving the object before the verb.
This sentence means 'He always wipes the table after eating.' The time phrase '吃完饭后' (after eating) comes before the action.
This sentence means 'She wipes the table with a wet cloth.' '用' (to use) precedes the tool.
/ 48 correct
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