renting
Renting a Flat
Moving out of the dormitory: viewing a place, understanding what the deposit formula actually means, what the agency charges, what is in the contract, and the police registration nobody mentions until it is late.
Essential phrases
In the order you are likely to need them. Play each one, repeat it, and read the note underneath — knowing when to say a sentence matters as much as saying it correctly.
你好，我想租一个一居室，预算三千左右。你好，我想租一個一居室，預算三千左右。
Nǐ (third tone, dipping) hǎo, (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) zū (first tone, high and level) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) yījūshì, (first tone, high and level) yùsuàn (fourth tone, falling) sānqiān (first tone, high and level) zuǒyòu. (third tone, dipping)
Hello, I am looking to rent a one-bedroom flat, with a budget of around three thousand.
When to use it
Say the size and the budget in the same breath. 一居室 (yījūshì) is a flat with one bedroom; substitute your own figure, and 左右 (zuǒyòu, roughly) keeps a little room to move.
我可以看看房子吗？什么时候方便？我可以看看房子嗎？什麼時候方便？
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) kànkan (fourth tone, falling) fángzi (second tone, rising) ma? (neutral tone) Shénme (second tone, rising) shíhou (second tone, rising) fāngbiàn? (first tone, high and level)
Could I view the flat? When would be convenient?
When to use it
看房 (kànfáng) is a viewing. Try to see it in daylight and, if you can, a second time in the evening — noise, light and the neighbours are completely different after dark.
请问，房租多少钱一个月？包括物业费吗？請問，房租多少錢一個月？包括物業費嗎？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) fángzū (second tone, rising) duōshao (first tone, high and level) qián (second tone, rising) yí (second tone, rising) ge (neutral tone) yuè? (fourth tone, falling) Bāokuò (first tone, high and level) wùyèfèi (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
How much is the rent per month? Does it include the building management fee?
When to use it
物业费 (wùyèfèi) is the building management charge, and whether it is included changes the real cost. Ask about it in the same sentence as the rent so the answer cannot be vague.
水电和网费是另外算吗？水電和網費是另外算嗎？
Shuǐdiàn (third tone, dipping) hé (second tone, rising) wǎngfèi (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) lìngwài (fourth tone, falling) suàn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
Are water, electricity and internet charged separately?
When to use it
They usually are. 另外算 (lìngwài suàn) means counted separately; ask also how they are paid, since many buildings use prepaid meters topped up through an app or a card.
押金是多少？押一付三还是押一付一？押金是多少？押一付三還是押一付一？
Yājīn (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) duōshao? (first tone, high and level) Yā (first tone, high and level) yī (first tone, high and level) fù (fourth tone, falling) sān (first tone, high and level) háishi (second tone, rising) yā (first tone, high and level) yī (first tone, high and level) fù (fourth tone, falling) yī? (first tone, high and level)
How much is the deposit? Is it one month deposit and three months in advance, or one and one?
When to use it
押一付三 (yā yī fù sān) is the standard shorthand: one month held as deposit, three months of rent paid up front. Knowing the formula tells you immediately how much cash you need on the day.
中介费怎么算？中介費怎麼算？
Zhōngjièfèi (first tone, high and level) zěnme (third tone, dipping) suàn? (fourth tone, falling)
How is the agency fee calculated?
When to use it
中介费 (zhōngjièfèi) is the agency commission and is usually expressed as a proportion of one month’s rent. Ask exactly how it is worked out, when it is paid, and whether it is refundable if the deal falls through.
合同签几年？可以签一年吗？合同簽幾年？可以簽一年嗎？
Hétong (second tone, rising) qiān (first tone, high and level) jǐ (third tone, dipping) nián? (second tone, rising) Kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) qiān (first tone, high and level) yì (fourth tone, falling) nián (second tone, rising) ma? (neutral tone)
How many years is the contract for? Could we sign for one year?
When to use it
A one-year term is the usual minimum. If your visa is shorter, say so now: some landlords will agree to a shorter term at a slightly higher rent, but only if it is discussed before signing.
家电和家具是房东的吗？家電和家具是房東的嗎？
Jiādiàn (first tone, high and level) hé (second tone, rising) jiājù (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) fángdōng (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) ma? (neutral tone)
Do the appliances and furniture belong to the landlord?
When to use it
It matters for repairs and for the deposit. 房东 (fángdōng) is the landlord; ask for an inventory in the contract listing what is there and what condition it is in.
热水器和空调能用吗？麻烦试一下。熱水器和空調能用嗎？麻煩試一下。
Rèshuǐqì (fourth tone, falling) hé (second tone, rising) kōngtiáo (first tone, high and level) néng (second tone, rising) yòng (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone) Máfan (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) yíxià. (second tone, rising)
Do the water heater and the air conditioning work? Could we test them, please?
When to use it
Test everything during the viewing, out loud, in front of the agent. Turn on the taps, run the hot water, switch on the air conditioning and the induction hob; problems found now go into the contract, problems found later come out of your deposit.
房子现在有的问题，麻烦写进合同里。房子現在有的問題，麻煩寫進合同裡。
Fángzi (second tone, rising) xiànzài (fourth tone, falling) yǒu (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) wèntí, (fourth tone, falling) máfan (second tone, rising) xiě (third tone, dipping) jìn (fourth tone, falling) hétong (second tone, rising) lǐ. (third tone, dipping)
Please write the existing problems with the flat into the contract.
When to use it
The sentence that protects your deposit. Photograph every mark and every meter reading on the day you move in, and keep the pictures until the day you get the deposit back.
房东可以帮我办居住登记吗？房東可以幫我辦居住登記嗎？
Fángdōng (second tone, rising) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) bāng (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) bàn (fourth tone, falling) jūzhù (first tone, high and level) dēngjì (first tone, high and level) ma? (neutral tone)
Can the landlord help me with the residence registration?
When to use it
Ask before you sign, not after you move. A foreign resident has to register their address with the local police station, and the landlord’s documents and cooperation are normally needed; the exact procedure is set locally, so confirm it at the station itself.
可以少一点吗？我可以一次付半年。可以少一點嗎？我可以一次付半年。
Kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) shǎo (third tone, dipping) yìdiǎn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone) Wǒ (third tone, dipping) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) yí (second tone, rising) cì (fourth tone, falling) fù (fourth tone, falling) bàn (fourth tone, falling) nián. (second tone, rising)
Could you come down a little? I can pay six months in one go.
When to use it
Negotiation works better when you offer something in return. Paying a longer period up front is the usual lever; a longer contract term is the other.
退租的时候押金怎么退？退租的時候押金怎麼退？
Tuìzū (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shíhou (second tone, rising) yājīn (first tone, high and level) zěnme (third tone, dipping) tuì? (fourth tone, falling)
When I move out, how is the deposit returned?
When to use it
Ask before you sign and get the answer written down: how many days after moving out, what may be deducted, and how much notice you must give. Deposit disputes are the most common problem tenants have.
附近有地铁站吗？走路几分钟？附近有地鐵站嗎？走路幾分鐘？
Fùjìn (fourth tone, falling) yǒu (third tone, dipping) dìtiězhàn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone) Zǒulù (third tone, dipping) jǐ (third tone, dipping) fēnzhōng? (first tone, high and level)
Is there a metro station nearby? How many minutes on foot?
When to use it
Ask, then walk it yourself before you commit. Listings describe distances generously, and a fifteen-minute walk twice a day is the difference between a flat you keep and one you regret.
Cultural notes
Most flats are found either through a (an agency) or, less often, directly from the (landlord). The agency shows you properties, drafts the contract and takes a — a commission usually expressed as a proportion of one month’s rent. Ask exactly how it is calculated and when it is due, and get it written into the contract rather than agreed verbally. Payment terms are described by a formula: means one month held as a deposit and three months of rent paid in advance, means one and one. This is the number that decides whether you can afford a place, because it determines the cash you need on the day of signing rather than the monthly figure. Vocabulary worth knowing before you start looking: (renting a whole flat) against (sharing, where you rent one room); and for one and two bedrooms; and for well-fitted and basic; , literally "move in with your bag", meaning fully furnished. Utilities are normally separate from the rent and often run on prepaid meters topped up in an app; in northern cities there may be a separate heating charge in winter. Two cautions. First, verify who you are actually signing with — ask to see the landlord’s identity document and, if possible, proof of ownership, because arrangements, where the person renting to you is themselves a tenant, are common and can go wrong. Second, foreign residents are required to register their address with the local police station after moving, and this normally needs the landlord’s cooperation and paperwork; the procedure and the deadline are set locally, so ask at the station or at your university’s international office rather than relying on what someone did in another city. Contracts are usually in Chinese only. Have someone read it with you, photograph the flat and every meter on the day you move in, and keep the or receipt for every payment you make.
These notes describe common practice, not rules. Requirements and procedures differ between cities, institutions and years — confirm anything procedural with the office, clinic or company itself.
Vocabulary
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Dictionary →Dialogue
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HSK Guide · Offline phrase card
Renting a Flat
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你好，我想租一个一居室，预算三千左右。你好，我想租一個一居室，預算三千左右。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng zū yí ge yījūshì, yùsuàn sānqiān zuǒyòu.
Hello, I am looking to rent a one-bedroom flat, with a budget of around three thousand.
我可以看看房子吗？什么时候方便？我可以看看房子嗎？什麼時候方便？
Wǒ kěyǐ kànkan fángzi ma? Shénme shíhou fāngbiàn?
Could I view the flat? When would be convenient?
请问，房租多少钱一个月？包括物业费吗？請問，房租多少錢一個月？包括物業費嗎？
Qǐngwèn, fángzū duōshao qián yí ge yuè? Bāokuò wùyèfèi ma?
How much is the rent per month? Does it include the building management fee?
水电和网费是另外算吗？水電和網費是另外算嗎？
Shuǐdiàn hé wǎngfèi shì lìngwài suàn ma?
Are water, electricity and internet charged separately?
押金是多少？押一付三还是押一付一？押金是多少？押一付三還是押一付一？
Yājīn shì duōshao? Yā yī fù sān háishi yā yī fù yī?
How much is the deposit? Is it one month deposit and three months in advance, or one and one?
中介费怎么算？中介費怎麼算？
Zhōngjièfèi zěnme suàn?
How is the agency fee calculated?
合同签几年？可以签一年吗？合同簽幾年？可以簽一年嗎？
Hétong qiān jǐ nián? Kěyǐ qiān yì nián ma?
How many years is the contract for? Could we sign for one year?
家电和家具是房东的吗？家電和家具是房東的嗎？
Jiādiàn hé jiājù shì fángdōng de ma?
Do the appliances and furniture belong to the landlord?
热水器和空调能用吗？麻烦试一下。熱水器和空調能用嗎？麻煩試一下。
Rèshuǐqì hé kōngtiáo néng yòng ma? Máfan shì yíxià.
Do the water heater and the air conditioning work? Could we test them, please?
房子现在有的问题，麻烦写进合同里。房子現在有的問題，麻煩寫進合同裡。
Fángzi xiànzài yǒu de wèntí, máfan xiě jìn hétong lǐ.
Please write the existing problems with the flat into the contract.
房东可以帮我办居住登记吗？房東可以幫我辦居住登記嗎？
Fángdōng kěyǐ bāng wǒ bàn jūzhù dēngjì ma?
Can the landlord help me with the residence registration?
可以少一点吗？我可以一次付半年。可以少一點嗎？我可以一次付半年。
Kěyǐ shǎo yìdiǎn ma? Wǒ kěyǐ yí cì fù bàn nián.
Could you come down a little? I can pay six months in one go.
退租的时候押金怎么退？退租的時候押金怎麼退？
Tuìzū de shíhou yājīn zěnme tuì?
When I move out, how is the deposit returned?
附近有地铁站吗？走路几分钟？附近有地鐵站嗎？走路幾分鐘？
Fùjìn yǒu dìtiězhàn ma? Zǒulù jǐ fēnzhōng?
Is there a metro station nearby? How many minutes on foot?