6 Key Chinese Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment

Foreigners and non-locals often need to rent an apartment (“租房子” (zū fángzi)). If they choose to live and work in major cities in China the process can sometimes become overwhelming due to the various factors. It’s essential to learn how to ask the key questions in Chinese for renting an apartment, being able to ask the right Chinese rental questions will help make your apartment search easier and more efficient.

Chinese Questions to Ask About the Living Area When Renting an Apartment

“How Many Rooms Are There in This Apartment?”

这套房子有几个房间?
Zhè tào fángzi yǒu jǐ gè fángjiān?
How many rooms are there in this apartment?

When renting an apartment in China it’s crucial to have a clear idea about the layout of the apartment before making your decision. Understanding the number of rooms can help you determine how spacious the apartment is and how many flatmates you might have. To ask about the number of rooms in an apartment you can use the question “这套房子有几个房间?” (Zhè tào fángzi yǒu jǐ gè fángjiān?) which means “How many rooms are there in this apartment?”. In this question “房子” (fángzi) refers to the apartment or house and “房间” (fángjiān) refers to room.

“Are There Any Metro Stations Nearby?”

附近有地铁站吗?
Fùjìn yǒu dìtiězhàn ma?
Are there any metro stations nearby?

When renting an apartment in China one important factor to consider is the proximity to public transport. Especially if you’re living in a first-tier city the metro is often the most convenient way to avoid traffic jams, so asking if there are metro stations nearby is crucial.

To inquire about this use the question “附近有地铁站吗?” (Fùjìn yǒu dìtiězhàn ma?) which means “Are there any metro stations nearby?”. In this question “附近” (fùjìn) means “near” and “地铁站” (dìtiězhàn) means “metro station”. You can replace “地铁站” with other words like “银行” (yínháng) for “bank” to ask about other nearby amenities.

EXAMPLE:

附近有银行吗?
Fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?
Are the any banks nearby?

Chinese Questions to Ask About the Rental Contract When Renting an Apartment

“How Much Do I Need to Pay for the Deposit”

我需要付多少押金?
Wǒ xūyào fù duōshǎo yājīn?
How much do I need to pay for the deposit?

In China, a deposit is typically required before moving into an apartment. The amount you need to pay for the deposit varies depending on the landlord. Generally the deposit will be returned to you at the end of your lease if the condition of the apartment meets the landlord’s requirements. If you’re wondering how much the deposit usually is, you may often hear “付三押一” (fù sān yā yī) which means “one-month deposit and three months’ rent”.

The proper way to say “one-month deposit” in Chinese is “一个月的押金” (yī gè yuè de yā jīn) where “一个月” (yī gè yuè) means “one month” and “押金” (yājīn) means “deposit”.

“Are the Water Bill and Electricity Bill Included?”

房租包括水费和电费吗？
Fángzū bāokuò shuǐfèi hé diànfèi ma?
Are the water bill and electricity bill included?

When renting an apartment in China it’s important to clarify whether bills like the water bill and electricity bill are included in the rent.

In China many tenants use Alipay (“支付宝” (Zhīfùbǎo)) or visit designated kiosks to pay their bills, which can be tricky for non-Chinese speakers. To avoid any confusion, ask your landlord the question: “房租包括水费和电费吗?” (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐfèi hé diànfèi ma?), which means “Are the water bill and electricity bill included?” Additionally you may also want to inquire about gas bills or 煤气费 (méiqìfèi).

VOCABULARY:

房租
fángzū
rent (noun)

包括
bāokuò
to include

水费
shuǐfèi
water bill

电费
diànfèi
electricity bill

煤气费
méiqìfèi
gas bill

“Can I Take a Look at the Contract?”

我可以看一下合同吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ kàn yīxià hétóng ma?
Can I take a look at the contract?

Before signing your rental contract in China it’s crucial to review the terms and conditions to avoid any misunderstandings. If you’re not familiar with Chinese, don’t worry – many estate agents provide foreigners with an English copy of the contract.

The word “合同” (hétóng) means “contract” in Chinese and it’s essential to understand the document. Before finalizing the deal you can ask the question: “我可以看一下合同吗?” (Wǒ kěyǐ kàn yīxià hétóng ma?) meaning “Can I take a look at the contract?”

Here are some useful phrases related to contracts:

签合同
qiān hétóng
to sign a contract

一年的合同
yī nián de hétóng
a one-year contract

续签合同
xù qiān hétóng
to renew the contract

终止合同
zhōngzhǐ hétóng
to terminate the contract

FAQ: Renting an Apartment in China

01. How do I ask about the rent in Chinese?

When renting an apartment in China you might want to ask: “这套房子租金是多少？” (Zhè tào fángzi zūjīn shì duōshǎo?) meaning “How much is the rent for this apartment?”

02. How can I ask about the deposit in Chinese?

To inquire about the deposit in China you can ask: “我需要付多少押金？” (Wǒ xūyào fù duōshǎo yājīn?), which means “How much do I need to pay for the deposit?”

03. What’s the best way to ask if bills are included?

You can ask about water and electricity bills with: “房租包括水费和电费吗？” (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐfèi hé diànfèi ma?), meaning “Are the water bill and electricity bill included?”

04. How do I inquire about nearby metro stations in Chinese?

To ask about metro stations near your potential apartment you can say: “附近有地铁站吗？” (Fùjìn yǒu dìtiězhàn ma?) meaning “Are there any metro stations nearby?”

05. How do I ask to see the contract before signing?

It’s important to review the contract before committing to ask about seeing the contract say: “我可以看一下合同吗？” (Wǒ kěyǐ kàn yīxià hétóng ma?) meaning “Can I take a look at the contract?”

We hope these phrases and questions will be useful and help you when you rent an apartment. To find out more interesting phrases and questions in Chinese, check out one of our blog posts 5 Small Talk Phrases in Chinese