中介
The rent is 2,600 yuan a month, with one month's deposit, three months' rent paid at a time, and a one-year lease. Is that all okay?
Beginner · 8-10 min
Confirm the Rent and Sign the Contract确认租金、押金和租期并签合同
After this scene, you can confirm the rent, deposit, payment schedule, lease term, agency fee, and early-termination clause, then review, sign, pay, and keep your contract copy.
Learning
Scene setup
You have decided to rent the apartment and now sit down with the real estate agent to confirm the rent, deposit, lease term, and agency fee before signing. The contract states a rent of 2,600 yuan a month, one month's deposit, three months' rent paid at a time, and no deposit refund for early termination. Utility arrangements vary: many water, electricity, and gas bills are paid by metered usage through WeChat, Alipay, or provider apps using an account number, while some prepaid cards support phone NFC top-ups.
Core dialogue
你
No problem. How is the agency fee calculated?
中介
Half a month's rent, which is 1,300 yuan.
你
If I end the lease early, will the deposit be returned?
中介
It is written in the contract that the deposit is not returned if you end the lease early.
你
Okay. Do I sign here?
中介
Yes. There are two identical copies of the contract. Read it carefully before signing.
你
I've read it. No problem—I'll sign it.
中介
The landlord has already signed. Once the payments are made, the process will be complete.
你
One month's deposit, three months' rent, plus a 1,300-yuan agency fee, right?
中介
Correct. The property management fee is paid separately to the property management office each month.
你
Okay, I have made all the payments.
中介
The payments have been received. Please keep this copy of the contract safe.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 6
zū租qī期yì一nián年
a one-year lease term
From the dialogue
中介:房租每月两千六，押一付三，租期一年，没问题吧？
The rent is 2,600 yuan a month, with one month's deposit, three months' rent paid at a time, and a one-year lease. Is that all okay?
Use it here
Use 租期 to identify how long the rental contract will remain in effect.
Say it another way
- zū租qī期yì一nián年
a one-year lease term
- zū租qī期bàn半nián年
a six-month lease term
- zū租qī期liǎng两nián年
a two-year lease term
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
租期 + Duration
State how long a rental contract lasts.
租期时长
时长 = six months, one year, two years, and so on
From dialogue
- zū租qī期yì一nián年。
The lease term is one year.
Try also
- zū租qī期bàn半nián年。
The lease term is six months.
- zū租qī期liǎng两nián年。
The lease term is two years.
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. Do not use 个 before 年
Not natural
租期一个年。
Natural
租期一年。
Why
年 follows the number directly; do not add the general measure word 个.
2. Use the fixed contract expression 一式两份
Not natural
合同一式两个。
Natural
合同一式两份。
Why
Use 份, not the general measure word 个, to count copies of a contract.
3. Use the fixed verb 签字
Not natural
我在这里签名字吗？
Natural
我在这里签字吗？
Why
Use the standard verb 签字 or 签名 for signing; do not say 签名字.
Quick answers for this Chinese scene
What does 租期一年 mean in Chinese?
a one-year lease term Use 租期 to identify how long the rental contract will remain in effect.
What does 提前退租 mean in Chinese?
end the lease early Use 提前退租 when leaving the apartment before the agreed lease end date.
What does 押金不退 mean in Chinese?
the deposit is not returned Use 押金不退 to state that the deposit will not be returned under the condition being discussed.
What is a common confirm the rent and sign the contract mistake to avoid?
Say 租期一年。 instead of 租期一个年。. 年 follows the number directly; do not add the general measure word 个.
What is a common confirm the rent and sign the contract mistake to avoid?
Say 合同一式两份。 instead of 合同一式两个。. Use 份, not the general measure word 个, to count copies of a contract.
Connected learning path