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通过机场安检

Going through airport security · a free Mandarin Chinese immersion capsule

10 sentences10 wordsreadinggrammar pattern5 exercises
Section 1

Useful sentences · 10

Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.

01

请把您的护照递给我看一下。

Please hand me your passport to take a look.

Literal Please take your passport hand-give me look one-time.

A polite imperative used by security officers when requesting documents. The 把-structure moves 护照 (passport) before the verb, emphasizing the action performed on it.

  • 把-structure places the object before the verb to emphasize the action performed on it
  • 递给 means to hand something over to someone
  • 一下 softens the request and makes it sound less demanding
02

请把笔记本电脑从包里取出来。

Please take your laptop out of your bag.

Literal Please take laptop from bag-inside take-out-come.

A standard pre-scan instruction at security. The directional complement 出来 indicates the object moving outward, toward the speaker.

  • 从...里 means 'from inside...' — marks the source location
  • 取出来 is a verb + directional complement: take + out + (toward speaker)
  • 把-structure marks the object being acted upon
03

您有没有携带危险品?

Are you carrying any dangerous goods?

Literal You have no-have carry dangerous-items?

An A-not-A yes/no question—a core Mandarin pattern. This is a standard security screening question heard at every checkpoint.

  • 有没有 = 'do you or don't you have?' — the A-not-A form for yes/no questions
  • 携带 is formal vocabulary for 'to carry'; more official than 带
  • No 吗 needed at the end because A-not-A already signals a question
04

这个液体超过一百毫升了。

This liquid exceeds 100 milliliters.

Literal This liquid exceed one-hundred milliliter (change-of-state).

Said when confiscating an oversized liquid item. The sentence-final 了 signals that a new situation has come into effect — the violation has been detected.

  • 超过 = to exceed a quantity or limit
  • 了 at sentence end signals a new or changed situation — not past tense
  • 一百毫升 = 100 ml; 毫升 (háoshēng) is the standard unit in regulations
05

这个箱子里面装的是什么?

What is packed inside this suitcase?

Literal This suitcase inside-face packed (is) what?

A question travelers may hear when their bag triggers a secondary check. 装的 nominalizes the verb 装 (to pack/contain), turning it into a noun phrase.

  • 里面 = inside (more specific and emphatic than 里 alone)
  • 装的 uses verb + 的 to nominalize: 'what is packed' rather than 'what packs'
  • 是什么 = 'is what?' — question word at the end of the sentence
06

请把皮带和手机都放在托盘里。

Please put both your belt and phone in the tray.

Literal Please take belt and phone all place at tray inside.

Standard instruction before walking through the scanner. 都 signals that all listed items are included in the instruction.

  • 都 after a list of items means 'all' or 'both'
  • 放在...里 = to place inside something
  • 把-structure with multiple objects connected by 和 (and)
07

不好意思,您能再说一遍吗?

Excuse me, could you say that again?

Literal Not good meaning, you can again say one-time (question)?

A polite way to ask for repetition. 不好意思 is a softer, more versatile apology than 对不起, and 再说一遍 means to say something once more.

  • 不好意思 = 'excuse me / I'm embarrassed to ask' — lighter than 对不起
  • 能...吗 = 'can you...?' — a modal yes/no question
  • 一遍 is a measure word for completed repetitions of an action
08

您需要在这里等一下,我去帮您确认。

You need to wait here for a moment; I'll go confirm for you.

Literal You need at here wait one-moment, I go help you confirm.

An officer might say this when escalating a check. 帮您 is a courteous framing — the officer is doing the action on behalf of the traveler.

  • 需要 + verb = 'need to do something'
  • 等一下 = wait a moment; 一下 softens and signals brevity
  • 帮 + person + verb = to do something for someone's benefit
09

这件行李可以作为随身携带物品。

This piece of luggage can be taken as a carry-on item.

Literal This (piece) luggage can serve-as carry-on item.

Useful when confirming a bag qualifies as carry-on. 件 is the measure word for luggage (and clothing). 作为 means 'to serve as / to be used as.'

  • 件 is the measure word for luggage, clothing, and formal matters
  • 可以 = can / is permitted to
  • 作为 = to serve as / to function as — used for roles and categories
10

您可以过去了,祝您旅途愉快!

You may go through now—have a pleasant journey!

Literal You can pass-go (new-state), wish you travel-journey pleasant!

The reassuring send-off at the end of a successful security check. 了 signals that clearance has now been granted; 祝您旅途愉快 is a warm, standard farewell.

  • 可以 + verb = 'may / is permitted to'
  • 了 signals a new state — the clearance is now in effect
  • 祝 + person + phrase = 'I wish you...' — a blessing formula usable in many contexts
Section 2

New words · 10

Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.

护照

passport

noun

请出示您的护照。

Please show your passport.

hù zhào — literally 'protect travel-document'; first document requested at any checkpoint

安检

security check

noun / verb

我们要过安检了。

We're going through security now.

Short for 安全检查 (ānquán jiǎnchá); frequently heard in airport announcements

托盘

tray

noun

把手机放在托盘里。

Put your phone in the tray.

tuō pán — the flat plastic trays used at X-ray conveyor belts

液体

liquid

noun

液体不能超过一百毫升。

Liquids cannot exceed 100 milliliters.

yè tǐ — core vocabulary in airline and security regulations

危险品

dangerous goods / prohibited items

noun

禁止携带危险品登机。

Carrying dangerous goods onto the aircraft is forbidden.

wēi xiǎn pǐn — heard constantly in airport PA announcements

随身携带

to carry on one's person / carry-on

verb phrase

这个包可以随身携带上飞机。

This bag can be carried on the plane.

随身 = 'on one's person'; 携带 = 'to carry' — together they mean carry-on

登机牌

boarding pass

noun

请出示您的登机牌。

Please show your boarding pass.

dēng jī pái — 登机 = board the aircraft; 牌 = card/board

行李

luggage / baggage

noun

您的行李需要检查一下。

Your luggage needs to be checked.

xíng li — the second syllable often takes a neutral tone in natural speech

超过

to exceed / to surpass

verb

重量不能超过二十公斤。

The weight cannot exceed 20 kilograms.

chāo guò — used for quantities, limits, and thresholds in regulations

确认

to confirm / to verify

verb

请帮我确认一下登机时间。

Please help me confirm the boarding time.

quèrèn — both characters have 4th (falling) tones; used in formal and service contexts

Section 3

Short reading

A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.

李华到达安检口时,工作人员请他把笔记本电脑和液体从包里取出来,放在托盘里。他顺利通过了扫描仪,但工作人员告诉他有一瓶水超过一百毫升了,需要扔掉。李华有点紧张,用普通话问:'不好意思,请问有什么规定吗?'工作人员耐心地解释了液体携带的规定,然后微笑着说:'您可以过去了,祝您旅途愉快!' Lǐ Huá dào dá ān jiǎn kǒu shí, gōng zuò rén yuán qǐng tā bǎ bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo hé yè tǐ cóng bāo lǐ qǔ chū lái, fàng zài tuō pán lǐ. Tā shùn lì tōng guò le sǎo miáo yí, dàn gōng zuò rén yuán gào su tā yǒu yī píng shuǐ chāo guò yī bǎi háo shēng le, xū yào rēng diào. Lǐ Huá yǒu diǎn jǐn zhāng, yòng pǔ tōng huà wèn: 'Bù hǎo yì si, qǐng wèn yǒu shén me guī dìng ma?' Gōng zuò rén yuán nài xīn de jiě shì le yè tǐ xié dài de guī dìng, rán hòu wēi xiào zhe shuō: 'Nín kě yǐ guò qù le, zhù nín lǚ tú yú kuài!'

Sentence by sentence

到达安检口时 (dào dá ān jiǎn kǒu shí)

when (he) arrived at the security checkpoint

到达 (dào dá) = to arrive; 安检口 (ān jiǎn kǒu) = security checkpoint entrance, where 口 (kǒu) = opening/gate; 时 (shí) = when / at the time of

把笔记本电脑和液体从包里取出来 (bǎ bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo hé yè tǐ cóng bāo lǐ qǔ chū lái)

take the laptop and liquids out of the bag

Classic 把 (bǎ)-structure with directional complement 取出来 (qǔ chū lái, take out). 从...里 (cóng...lǐ) marks the source: 'from inside the bag.' 笔记本电脑 (bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo) = laptop; 液体 (yè tǐ) = liquids.

有一瓶水超过一百毫升了 (yǒu yī píng shuǐ chāo guò yī bǎi háo shēng le)

one bottle of water exceeds 100 milliliters

一瓶水 (yī píng shuǐ) uses the measure word 瓶 (píng, bottle) with the noun 水 (shuǐ, water); 超过 (chāo guò) = to exceed; sentence-final 了 (le) signals a new situation, here flagging the violation.

请问有什么规定吗 (qǐng wèn yǒu shén me guī dìng ma)

may I ask what the rules are?

请问 (qǐng wèn) = polite opener 'may I ask'; 有什么...吗 (yǒu shén me...ma) = 'is there any...?' — a common pattern for asking about rules or options; 规定 (guī dìng) = regulation/rule.

祝您旅途愉快 (zhù nín lǚ tú yú kuài)

have a pleasant journey

祝 (zhù) + person + phrase is a fixed blessing formula. 您 (nín) = polite 'you'; 旅途 (lǚ tú) = journey/trip; 愉快 (yú kuài) = pleasant/happy. Reusable as a warm send-off in many contexts.

Section 4

Pattern of the day

One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.

请把 [object] [verb + complement] — Polite Imperative with 把-Structure

Security instructions in Mandarin typically use 请 (please) + 把 + object + verb phrase. The 把-structure moves the object before the verb to emphasize what is being done to it. Directional complements like 取出来 (take out) or 放进去 (put in) pair naturally with this structure, specifying the direction or result of the action.

请 + 把 + [object] + [verb] + [directional complement / location]

请把护照递给我。

Please hand me your passport.

请把手机放在托盘里。

Please put your phone in the tray.

请把液体从包里取出来。

Please take the liquids out of your bag.

请把行李放到传送带上。

Please place your luggage on the conveyor belt.

Section 5

Mini practice · 5

Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.

Q1Translate to target

Please take your laptop out of the bag.

Hint Use the 请把 structure: 请把 [object] 从包里取出来

Q2Translate to native

这个液体超过一百毫升了。

Hint 超过 means 'to exceed / to go over'

Q3Fill in the blank

请把皮带和手机都放在___里。(Please put your belt and phone in the ___.)

Hint It's the flat tray you use at the security conveyor belt.

Q4Choose the best

The security officer asks if you are carrying dangerous goods. Which sentence best matches that question?

Q5Make it polite

Rewrite using the 请把 structure: 您的护照 / 递给我 / 看一下

Hint Pattern: 请把 + [object] + [verb phrase]

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