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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'to tidy up' with 收拾 (shōushi)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    收拾 + Object / 收拾 + 一下

    Explanation

    收拾 (shōushi) means "to tidy up," "to clean up," or "to put in order" and is used when organizing or straightening a space. It can also colloquially mean "to fix" or "to deal with" someone.

    Examples

    • 你先收拾一下房间,客人马上就到了。

      Nǐ xiān shōushi yíxià fángjiān, kèrén mǎshàng jiù dào le.

      Tidy up the room first — the guests will be here any minute.

    • 吃完饭我来收拾桌子。

      Chī wán fàn wǒ lái shōushi zhuōzi.

      I'll clear the table after we finish eating.

    • 她花了一个下午收拾行李,准备出发。

      Tā huā le yí gè xiàwǔ shōushi xíngli, zhǔnbèi chūfā.

      She spent the whole afternoon packing her luggage, getting ready to set off.

    Expressing 'to tidy up' with 收拾 (shōushi) | Chinese Grammar