Daily Chinese for Factory: Downtime root cause analysis
Learn practical Chinese conversations for everyday work situations. This chapter focuses on 'Downtime root cause analysis', teaching you key vocabulary like '停机' (Machine downtime / shutdown) and '原因' (Reason / cause).
Topic: Daily Chinese for Factory (Workplace Mandarin)
1. Original Dialogue
A: 机器刚才停了二十分钟，你知道原因吗？
B: 我查过了，是传感器故障。
A: 传感器为什么会出问题？
B: 可能是灰尘太多，影响了感应。
A: 那我们要增加清洁的频率。
B: 对，还有要定期检查传感器的状态。
A: 我们把这次停机原因记录下来。
B: 好，这样以后可以快速找到解决方法。
2. Dialogue Details & Translation
A: 机器刚才停了二十分钟，你知道原因吗？
Jīqì gāngcái tíng le èrshí fēnzhōng, nǐ zhīdào yuányīn ma?
The machine just stopped for twenty minutes. Do you know the reason?
B: 我查过了，是传感器故障。
Wǒ chá guò le, shì chuángǎnqì gùzhàng.
I've checked. It was a sensor malfunction.
A: 传感器为什么会出问题？
Chuángǎnqì wèishénme huì chū wèntí?
Why did the sensor have a problem?
B: 可能是灰尘太多，影响了感应。
Kěnéng shì huīchén tài duō, yǐngxiǎng le gǎnyìng.
It's likely because there was too much dust, affecting the sensing.
A: 那我们要增加清洁的频率。
Nà wǒmen yào zēngjiā qīngjié de pínlǜ.
Then we need to increase the cleaning frequency.
B: 对，还有要定期检查传感器的状态。
Duì, hái yǒu yào dìngqī jiǎnchá chuángǎnqì de zhuàngtài.
Right, and we also need to inspect the sensor condition regularly.
A: 我们把这次停机原因记录下来。
Wǒmen bǎ zhè cì tíngjī yuányīn jìlù xiàlái.
Let's record the reason for this downtime.
B: 好，这样以后可以快速找到解决方法。
Hǎo, zhèyàng yǐhòu kěyǐ kuàisù zhǎodào jiějué fāngfǎ.
Good. That way we can find solutions quickly in the future.
3. Key Vocabulary
停机 tíngjī: Machine downtime / shutdown
原因 yuányīn: Reason / cause
传感器 chuángǎnqì: Sensor
故障 gùzhàng: Malfunction / fault
灰尘 huīchén: Dust
感应 gǎnyìng: Sensing / detection
清洁 qīngjié: Clean
频率 pínlǜ: Frequency
定期 dìngqī: Regularly
状态 zhuàngtài: Condition / status
记录 jìlù: Record
快速 kuàisù: Quickly
解决方法 jiějué fāngfǎ: Solution
增加 zēngjiā: Increase
查 chá: Check / investigate
4. Grammar & Sentence Structures
把 + object + verb + 下来 (record/write down)
把...记录下来 is used to mean 'record something'.
Example: 我们把这次停机原因记录下来。
Wǒmen bǎ zhè cì tíngjī yuányīn jìlù xiàlái.
Let's record the reason for this downtime.
可能是 + reason (possibly because)
Used to give a possible explanation for a problem.
Example: 可能是灰尘太多，影响了感应。
Kěnéng shì huīchén tài duō, yǐngxiǎng le gǎnyìng.
It is likely because there was too much dust, affecting the sensing.
5. Practice Exercises
Question 1: How long was the machine stopped?
A. Ten minutes
B. Fifteen minutes
C. Twenty minutes
D. Thirty minutes
Answer: C. Twenty minutes
Explanation: A said the machine stopped for twenty minutes (二十分钟).
Question 2: What caused the problem?
A. Power failure
B. Sensor malfunction
C. Operator error
D. Missing parts
Answer: B. Sensor malfunction
Explanation: B said it was a sensor malfunction (传感器故障).
Question 3: What is the likely root cause?
A. Old machine
B. Too much dust affecting the sensor
C. Wrong settings
D. Loose wire
Answer: B. Too much dust affecting the sensor
Explanation: B suggested that too much dust (灰尘太多) affected the sensing.
Question 4: What does 频率 mean?
A. Speed
B. Frequency
C. Duration
D. Priority
Answer: B. Frequency
Explanation: 频率 means frequency, how often something happens.
Question 5: Why is it important to record the downtime reason?
A. To report to customers
B. To blame someone
C. To find solutions quickly in the future
D. To reduce production
Answer: C. To find solutions quickly in the future
Explanation: B said recording helps find solutions quickly (快速找到解决方法) in the future.