中介
This is the apartment. It has one bedroom and one living room, with a refrigerator, TV, washing machine, water heater, and air conditioner.
Beginner · 8-10 min
View the Apartment看房并询问基本情况
After this scene, you can understand an apartment layout and appliance list, ask about rent and extra costs, check payment terms, negotiate the price, ask about the agency fee, and confirm when you can move in.
Learning
Scene setup
You have arrived for the apartment viewing you arranged with the real estate agent. The agent shows you a one-bedroom apartment with major appliances, and you check the full monthly cost rather than asking only about rent: property management, utilities, payment schedule, and the agency fee may be charged separately. Before deciding, you also ask whether the rent is negotiable and when the apartment would be ready to move into.
Core dialogue
你
It looks okay. How much is the rent?
中介
It's 2,600 yuan a month, with one month's deposit and three months' rent paid at a time.
你
Does the 2,600 yuan include the property management fee?
中介
No. The property management fee is 100 yuan a month, and you pay for water, electricity, and gas separately.
你
Can the price be a little lower?
中介
The landlord says 2,600 is the lowest price. It can't go any lower.
你
How is the agency fee calculated?
中介
Half a month's rent.
你
When can I move in?
中介
You can move in as soon as the contract is signed.
你
Okay. I'll take another look at the natural light and the bathroom.
中介
No problem. Take your time.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 6
yí一shì室yì一tīng厅
one bedroom and one living room
From the dialogue
中介:就是这套房子，一室一厅，冰箱、电视、洗衣机、热水器、空调都有。
This is the apartment. It has one bedroom and one living room, with a refrigerator, TV, washing machine, water heater, and air conditioner.
Use it here
Use 一室一厅 to describe an apartment with one bedroom and one living room.
Say it another way
- yí一shì室yì一tīng厅
one bedroom and one living room
- liǎng两shì室yì一tīng厅
two bedrooms and one living room
- liǎng两shì室liǎng两tīng厅
two bedrooms, a living room, and a dining room
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
Price + 一个月，Payment Terms
State the monthly rent and the deposit-payment schedule together.
月租价格一个月，付款方式
月租价格 = the rent amount per month
付款方式 = the required deposit and rent payment schedule
From dialogue
- liǎng两qiān千liù六yí一ge个yuè月，yā押yī一fù付sān三。
It's 2,600 a month, with one month's deposit and rent paid every three months.
Try also
- sān三qiān千yí一ge个yuè月，yā押yī一fù付yī一。
It's 3,000 a month, with one month's deposit and rent paid monthly.
- sì四qiān千èr二yí一ge个yuè月，yā押èr二fù付yī一。
It's 4,200 a month, with a two-month deposit and rent paid monthly.
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. State a monthly rent with 一个月
Not natural
房租两千六月。
Natural
房租两千六一个月。
Why
Use 一个月 to express the monthly rental period after the amount.
2. Ask for the calculation with 怎么算
Not natural
中介费怎么算多少钱？
Natural
中介费怎么算？
Why
Use 怎么算 for the calculation method or 多少钱 for the amount; do not combine the two question forms.
3. Do not repeat the direction in 入住
Not natural
什么时候能入住进来？
Natural
什么时候能入住？
Why
入住 already means move in or begin occupancy, so 进来 is unnecessary here.
Quick answers for this Chinese scene
What does 一室一厅 mean in Chinese?
one bedroom and one living room Use 一室一厅 to describe an apartment with one bedroom and one living room.
What does 押一付三 mean in Chinese?
one month's deposit and three months' rent paid at a time Use 押一付三 to state a payment schedule with a one-month deposit and three months of rent paid together.
What does 物业费 mean in Chinese?
property management fee Use 物业费 for the fee charged for management and shared services in a residential compound.
What is a common view the apartment mistake to avoid?
Say 房租两千六一个月。 instead of 房租两千六月。. Use 一个月 to express the monthly rental period after the amount.
What is a common view the apartment mistake to avoid?
Say 中介费怎么算？ instead of 中介费怎么算多少钱？. Use 怎么算 for the calculation method or 多少钱 for the amount; do not combine the two question forms.
Connected learning path