zhèxiē èrshǒu wánjù hěn gānjìng.

Questions & Answers about zhèxiē èrshǒu wánjù hěn gānjìng.

What does 这些 mean, and why is it at the beginning?

这些 means these. It points to things that are near the speaker, just like English these.

It comes first because Chinese usually puts a demonstrative word before the noun it describes:

  • 这些玩具 = these toys
  • 那些玩具 = those toys

So in this sentence, 这些二手玩具 means these second-hand toys.

Why is there no measure word after 这些?

In Mandarin, by itself usually needs a measure word before a noun:

  • 这个玩具 = this toy
  • 这几个玩具 = these few toys

But 这些 already includes , which gives a plural meaning like some / these, so you do not add another measure word after it. That is why 这些玩具 is correct, not 这些个玩具 in standard neutral speech.

What does 二手 mean exactly?

二手 means second-hand or used. It is the normal word for something that has had a previous owner.

Literally, the characters mean two-hand, but you should learn it as a fixed expression meaning second-hand:

  • 二手车 = used car
  • 二手书 = used book
  • 二手玩具 = second-hand toy / used toy
Why is there no between 二手 and 玩具?

Chinese often leaves out when the modifier and noun form a close, common combination. 二手玩具 is a natural, compact phrase, so is usually omitted.

You may also hear 二手的玩具, and that is not wrong. It sounds a little less tight and slightly more descriptive. In everyday speech, 二手玩具 is the more usual form.

What is the word order in 这些二手玩具?

The order is:

demonstrative + modifier + noun

So:

  • 这些 = these
  • 二手 = second-hand
  • 玩具 = toys

Together: 这些二手玩具 = these second-hand toys

This is different from English only in appearance; the modifier still comes before the noun, just as in second-hand toys.

Why does the sentence use before 干净? Does it really mean very?

Not always. In a sentence like this, is often used before an adjective simply to make the sentence sound natural.

So 很干净 can mean:

  • very clean in some contexts
  • just clean in many neutral descriptions

That means 这些二手玩具很干净 is often understood as These second-hand toys are clean, even though literally often means very.

Why is there no in this sentence?

Because 干净 is an adjective, and in Mandarin adjectives can act as the main predicate by themselves.

So Chinese says:

  • 玩具很干净 = The toys are clean

But is usually used when one noun is being identified as another noun:

  • 这是玩具 = This is a toy

So 这些二手玩具很干净 is correct, while 这些二手玩具是干净 is not natural.

Can I say 这些二手玩具干净 without ?

Usually, for a simple neutral statement, Chinese prefers 很干净 rather than just 干净.

Without , the sentence can sound contrastive or emphatic, as if you mean:

  • These second-hand toys are clean (as opposed to something else)

So for a basic description, 这些二手玩具很干净 is the safest and most natural choice.

What does 干净 mean here? Is it only about cleanliness?

Here, 干净 means clean. Since the sentence is about toys, it means they are not dirty.

In other contexts, 干净 can also have slightly broader meanings, such as neat, spotless, or even completely in certain expressions. But in this sentence, the meaning is simply clean.

Is 这些二手玩具很干净 a natural sentence in everyday Mandarin?

Yes, it is natural and correct. It sounds like a normal descriptive sentence.

Depending on context, a speaker might also say things like:

  • 这些二手玩具都很干净。 = These second-hand toys are all clean.
  • 这些二手玩具挺干净的。 = These second-hand toys are pretty clean.

But the original sentence is already perfectly normal.

How should I pronounce the sentence smoothly?

A natural pronunciation is:

zhèxiē èrshǒu wánjù hěn gānjìng

A few helpful notes:

  • in 这些 is zhè, fourth tone
  • is xiē, first tone
  • 二手 is èrshǒu
  • 玩具 is wánjù
  • is hěn
  • 干净 is gānjìng

When spoken naturally, the sentence flows as two chunks: 这些二手玩具 / 很干净

What is the subject of the sentence?

The subject is the whole noun phrase 这些二手玩具.

So the sentence breaks down like this:

  • 这些二手玩具 = subject: these second-hand toys
  • 很干净 = predicate: are clean

This is a very common Mandarin sentence pattern: noun phrase + + adjective

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