New here? This is lesson 131 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.
Looking for a flat in Simplified Chinese
The flat above the scooter shop comes with a one-year lease, so Maya decides to look at other places before committing. She visits a rental agent near Banyan Lane.
Ask if a flat is still available, what the monthly rent and deposit are, and whether utilities are included. You can also ask when to view it and the earliest move-in date.
Use polite questions to get practical details. Notice how question words stay in their usual place instead of moving to the beginning of the sentence.
By the end of this lesson
Ask whether a flat is available, find out about rent and utilities, and ask when you can view or move in.
- 请问那间房子还在出租吗？Is that flat still for rent?
- 请问租金一个月多少？How much is the rent per month?
- 水电费包含在租金里吗？Are utilities included in the rent?
- 请问押金是多少？How much is the deposit?
- 我什么时候可以去看房？When can I come see it?
- 最早什么时候可以入住？What's the earliest I can move in?
Scene — a second look
Maya has second thoughts about the flat above the scooter shop: its lease is for a year. Before deciding, she visits a rental agent to ask about another listing.
The listing is for a flat nearby. Maya wants to check the price, what the rent covers, and whether the dates work for her.
Learn — questions for a rental agent
These six questions help you check a rental listing before making a decision. Listen for the polite opening and the details each question asks for.
Some questions ask for a price, while others ask about a viewing or move-in date.
请问那间房子还在出租吗？
Is that flat still for rent?
When to use it: Ask an agent whether a particular flat is still available to rent.
请问 is a polite way to open a question to someone you do not know.
请问租金一个月多少？
How much is the rent per month?
When to use it: Ask how much rent costs for one month.
一个月 gives the time period for the rent amount.
Say it: 一 changes to a rising tone before 个.
水电费包含在租金里吗？
Are utilities included in the rent?
When to use it: Ask whether water and electricity costs are part of the rent.
吗 at the end turns this statement into a yes-or-no question.
请问押金是多少？
How much is the deposit?
When to use it: Ask the agent how much deposit the flat requires.
多少 stays after 是 here, in the place where the amount is requested.
我什么时候可以去看房？
When can I come see it?
When to use it: Ask when you can visit and view the flat.
什么时候 stays in its usual question-word position in the sentence.
Say it: 时 has a second tone; 候 is commonly neutral in 时候.
最早什么时候可以入住？
What's the earliest I can move in?
When to use it: Ask for the earliest possible move-in date.
最早 asks for the earliest possible time.
Story — checking a listing
Maya decides to check other flats before committing to a year's lease above the scooter shop. At a nearby rental agent, she asks about one listing.
The agent answers each question directly. Maya learns its costs and dates, but has not chosen a place yet.
Maya您好。Hello, politely.- Rental agent您好。Hello, politely.
- Maya请问那间房子还在出租吗？Is that flat still for rent?
- Rental agent有，还在出租。Yes, it's still for rent.
- Maya请问租金一个月多少？How much is the rent per month?
- Rental agent一个月两万八千元。It's twenty-eight thousand dollars a month.
- Maya水电费包含在租金里吗？Are utilities included in the rent?
- Rental agent水电费不包含在租金里。Utilities aren't included in the rent.
- Maya请问押金是多少？How much is the deposit?
- Rental agent押金是两个月的租金。The deposit is two months' rent.
- Maya我什么时候可以去看房？When can I come see it?
- Rental agent这周五下午可以。Friday afternoon works.
- Maya最早什么时候可以入住？What's the earliest I can move in?
- Rental agent下个月一号可以入住。You can move in on the first of next month.
Practice — ask about the flat
Try eight short exercises about rental listings. Choose the right question, build one useful line, and fill in the word that matches the English meaning.
Then practise greeting the agent and asking about rent and move-in timing.
0 of 8 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
请问那间房子还在出租吗？
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ask a rental agent how much the rent costs for one month.
Build the line
Build the line
How much is the deposit?
？
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Are utilities included in the rent?
水电费包含在____里吗？
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Pick the reply
Rental agent says:
Pick the reply
你想先问入住时间吗？
Would you like to ask about the move-in time first?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are about to ask the agent a polite question. Start with the words meaning “May I ask?”
What do you say?
What do you say?
Greet a rental agent politely when you meet.
Say it — your rental questions
You are Maya, asking an agent about a flat before deciding whether to commit to a year's lease. Listen to the agent, then ask your next question.
Ask clearly about availability, rent, viewing time, and the earliest move-in date.
- Maya meets the rental agent to ask about a listing.
- Maya (you)Ask whether the flat is still available to rent.
Ask whether the flat is still available to rent.
请问那间房子还在出租吗？
Is that flat still for rent?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Simplified Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 请问那间房子还在出租吗？ | Is that flat still for rent? | |
| 请问租金一个月多少？ | How much is the rent per month? | |
| 水电费包含在租金里吗？ | Are utilities included in the rent? | |
| 请问押金是多少？ | How much is the deposit? | |
| 我什么时候可以去看房？ | When can I come see it? | |
| 最早什么时候可以入住？ | What's the earliest I can move in? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Review these rental questions in Yak Cards and practise asking for the details you need.
Say the questions aloud once more before you contact a rental agent.
Open Yak Cards