2 · 40 words

Housework and chores

Cleaning, tidying and the things at home that need looking after.

Housework is 家务(jiāwù), and most chores are a verb with its object already built in: 扫地(sǎodì)is “sweep floor”洗碗(xǐwǎn)is “wash bowls” Because the object is already there, you do not add another one — and because these verbs can be split, a word such as 了(le) or 完(wán) goes in the middle: 洗完(xǐwán)碗(wǎn), finished washing up.

The words

Verb (12)

打扫(dǎsǎo)to clean (a room or place)Verb2

周末(zhōumò)我们(wǒmen)一起(yìqǐ)打扫(dǎsǎo)房间(fángjiān)。At the weekend we clean the rooms together.

For places; clothes and dishes are washed with 洗(xǐ).

收拾(shōushi)to tidy up; to clear awayVerb2

你(nǐ)的(de)桌子(zhuōzi)太(tài)乱(luàn)了(le)，快(kuài)收拾(shōushi)一下(yíxià)。Your desk is far too messy — tidy it up, quick.

整理(zhěnglǐ)to sort out; to put in orderVerb2

妈妈(māma)在(zài)整理(zhěnglǐ)衣柜(yīguì)里(lǐ)的(de)衣服(yīfu)。Mum is sorting out the clothes in the wardrobe.

More careful than 收拾(shōushi): putting things in order rather than just clearing up.

擦(cā)to wipe; to polishVerb2

请(qǐng)你(nǐ)擦(cā)一下(yíxià)桌子(zhuōzi)。Please give the table a wipe.

Also for windows: 擦(cā)窗户(chuānghu), to clean the windows.

扫地(sǎodì)to sweep the floorVerb2

我(wǒ)扫地(sǎodì)，你(nǐ)洗碗(xǐwǎn)，好不好(hǎobuhǎo)？I'll sweep the floor and you wash up, OK?

拖地(tuōdì)to mop the floorVerb2

拖地(tuōdì)以前(yǐqián)要(yào)先(xiān)扫(sǎo)一下(yíxià)。Before you mop the floor, you need to sweep it first.

洗碗(xǐwǎn)to wash the dishes; to wash upVerb2

吃完(chīwán)饭(fàn)以后(yǐhòu)，爸爸(bàba)洗碗(xǐwǎn)。After the meal, Dad does the washing-up.

Literally “wash bowls”, but it covers plates and chopsticks too.

刷(shuā)to brush; to scrubVerb2

我(wǒ)用(yòng)旧(jiù)牙刷(yáshuā)刷(shuā)鞋(xié)。I scrub my shoes with an old toothbrush.

叠(dié)to foldVerb2

请(qǐng)把(bǎ)干净(gānjìng)的(de)衣服(yīfu)叠好(diéhǎo)。Please fold up the clean clothes.

轮流(lúnliú)to take turnsVerb2

我们(wǒmen)三(sān)个(ge)人(rén)轮流(lúnliú)打扫(dǎsǎo)厨房(chúfáng)。The three of us take turns cleaning the kitchen.

浇(jiāo)to water (plants); to pour onVerb2

出门(chūmén)以前(yǐqián)别(bié)忘(wàng)了(le)浇(jiāo)花(huā)。Don't forget to water the plants before you go out.

倒(dào)to pour; to empty (out)Verb2

水(shuǐ)凉(liáng)了(le)，倒(dào)了(le)吧(ba)。The water has gone cold — just pour it away.

Read dào here; meaning “to fall over” it is 倒(dǎo).

Noun (28)

家务(jiāwù)housework; choresNoun2

我(wǒ)每天(měitiān)晚上(wǎnshang)做(zuò)家务(jiāwù)。I do the housework every evening.

The verb is 做(zuò): 做(zuò)家务(jiāwù), to do the chores.

水龙头(shuǐlóngtóu)tapNoun2

水龙头(shuǐlóngtóu)坏(huài)了(le)，一直(yìzhí)在(zài)滴(dī)水(shuǐ)。The tap is broken and keeps dripping.

衣架(yījià)clothes hangerNoun2

把(bǎ)衬衫(chènshān)挂(guà)在(zài)衣架(yījià)上(shàng)。Hang the shirt on a hanger.

吸尘器(xīchénqì)vacuum cleanerNoun2

用(yòng)吸尘器(xīchénqì)比(bǐ)扫地(sǎodì)快(kuài)多(duō)了(le)。Vacuuming is much quicker than sweeping.

Measure word: 台(tái).

垃圾(lājī)rubbishNoun2

晚上(wǎnshang)我(wǒ)去(qù)楼下(lóuxià)倒(dào)垃圾(lājī)。In the evening I take the rubbish downstairs.

Taking it out is 倒(dào)垃圾(lājī), literally “pour out the rubbish”.

垃圾桶(lājītǒng)rubbish binNoun2

垃圾桶(lājītǒng)满(mǎn)了(le)，谁(shéi)去(qù)倒(dào)一下(yíxià)？The bin is full — who's going to empty it?

垃圾袋(lājīdài)bin bagNoun2

家里(jiālǐ)没有(méiyǒu)垃圾袋(lājīdài)了(le)，去(qù)买(mǎi)一些(yìxiē)吧(ba)。We're out of bin bags — let's go and buy some.

厨房(chúfáng)kitchenNoun2

厨房(chúfáng)很(hěn)小(xiǎo)，但是(dànshì)很(hěn)干净(gānjìng)。The kitchen is small but very clean.

洗手间(xǐshǒujiān)toilet; washroomNoun2

洗手间(xǐshǒujiān)的(de)灯(dēng)不(bú)亮(liàng)了(le)。The light in the toilet has stopped working.

The polite everyday word; 厕所(cèsuǒ) is plainer.

卫生间(wèishēngjiān)bathroomNoun2

卫生间(wèishēngjiān)每(měi)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)打扫(dǎsǎo)两(liǎng)次(cì)。The bathroom gets cleaned twice a week.

The room with the toilet and shower in a flat; in public you ask for the 洗手间(xǐshǒujiān).

冰箱(bīngxiāng)fridgeNoun2

牛奶(niúnǎi)在(zài)冰箱(bīngxiāng)里(lǐ)。The milk is in the fridge.

Measure word: 台(tái).

空调(kōngtiáo)air conditionerNoun2

太(tài)热(rè)了(le)，开(kāi)空调(kōngtiáo)吧(ba)。It's too hot — let's put the air conditioning on.

Here 调(tiáo) is tiáo, not diào; the unit also heats in winter.

灯(dēng)light; lampNoun2

出门(chūmén)的(de)时候(shíhou)请(qǐng)关(guān)灯(dēng)。Please turn off the lights when you go out.

On and off are 开(kāi) and 关(guān), as for doors.

洗衣机(xǐyījī)washing machineNoun2

脏(zāng)衣服(yīfu)已经(yǐjīng)在(zài)洗衣机(xǐyījī)里(lǐ)了(le)。The dirty clothes are already in the washing machine.

Measure word: 台(tái).

微波炉(wēibōlú)microwave ovenNoun2

饭(fàn)凉(liáng)了(le)，用(yòng)微波炉(wēibōlú)热(rè)一下(yíxià)。The food has gone cold — warm it up in the microwave.

地板(dìbǎn)floorNoun2

地板(dìbǎn)刚(gāng)拖完(tuōwán)，还(hái)没(méi)干(gān)。The floor has just been mopped and isn't dry yet.

抹布(mābù)cloth (for wiping)Noun2

用(yòng)抹布(mābù)把(bǎ)桌子(zhuōzi)擦(cā)干净(gānjìng)。Wipe the table clean with a cloth.

Here 抹(mā) is read mā.

洗衣粉(xǐyīfěn)washing powderNoun2

洗衣粉(xǐyīfěn)不(bú)要(yào)放(fàng)太(tài)多(duō)。Don't put in too much washing powder.

肥皂(féizào)soapNoun2

吃饭(chīfàn)以前(yǐqián)用(yòng)肥皂(féizào)洗(xǐ)手(shǒu)。Wash your hands with soap before eating.

Measure word: 块(kuài).

拖把(tuōbǎ)mopNoun2

拖把(tuōbǎ)放(fàng)在(zài)阳台(yángtái)上(shàng)。The mop is kept on the balcony.

扫帚(sàozhou)broomNoun2

扫帚(sàozhou)在(zài)门(mén)后面(hòumiàn)。The broom is behind the door.

Here 扫(sào) is sào, not sǎo as in 扫地(sǎodì).

洗洁精(xǐjiéjīng)washing-up liquidNoun2

洗碗(xǐwǎn)的(de)时候(shíhou)别(bié)用(yòng)太(tài)多(duō)洗洁精(xǐjiéjīng)。Don't use too much washing-up liquid when you wash up.

灰尘(huīchén)dustNoun2

很(hěn)久(jiǔ)没(méi)打扫(dǎsǎo)，桌子(zhuōzi)上(shàng)都(dōu)是(shì)灰尘(huīchén)。Nobody has cleaned for ages, and the table is covered in dust.

刷子(shuāzi)brushNoun2

这(zhè)把(bǎ)刷子(shuāzi)是(shì)专门(zhuānmén)刷(shuā)锅(guō)的(de)。This brush is just for scrubbing pots.

Measure word: 把(bǎ).

床单(chuángdān)bed sheetNoun2

床单(chuángdān)应该(yīnggāi)每(měi)个(ge)星期(xīngqī)换(huàn)一(yí)次(cì)。Bed sheets should be changed once a week.

Measure word: 条(tiáo).

电(diàn)electricityNoun2

这(zhè)台(tái)旧(jiù)冰箱(bīngxiāng)很(hěn)费(fèi)电(diàn)。This old fridge uses a lot of electricity.

A power cut is 停电(tíngdiàn).

开关(kāiguān)switchNoun2

灯(dēng)的(de)开关(kāiguān)在(zài)门(mén)旁边(pángbiān)。The light switch is next to the door.

卫生(wèishēng)hygiene; cleanlinessNoun2

明天(míngtiān)有(yǒu)客人(kèrén)来(lái)，今天(jīntiān)要(yào)打扫(dǎsǎo)卫生(wèishēng)。We have guests coming tomorrow, so today we need to do the cleaning.

打扫(dǎsǎo)卫生(wèishēng) is the everyday way to say “do the cleaning”.

This list belongs to Home and daily life — five lists and 200 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.