Traditional Chinese - Renting an Apartment

Lesson 121 of 152

A renter reviews an apartment contract at a small table in Taiwan, with Traditional Chinese notes about Taiwan Mandarin rental questions on a tablet. The scene highlights the lesson topic of renting an apartment.

Goal: Ask the practical questions before you sign.

Free traditional Chinese lessons with Taiwan Mandarin audio and speaking practice.

Apartment hunting can feel like a detective game: fees, repairs, contracts, and that mysterious “extra cost” hiding in the corner.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask clear, grown-up rental questions in Taiwan Mandarin—without sounding stiff or scary.

Level B1: you’ll practice phrases for asking about repairs, lease renewal, application documents, fees, payment methods, and move-out notice. These are the questions that help you protect your wallet and your peace of mind before signing. Tiny Yak Yacker tip: if the lease starts talking back, definitely ask for maintenance.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Ask who handles repairs with 維修是誰負責？ (Wéixiū shì shéi fùzé?)
  • Ask about renewal and move-out rules using 租約到期後可以續租嗎？ (Zūyuē dàoqí hòu kěyǐ xùzū ma?) and 如果要搬走，需要提前多久通知？ (Rúguǒ yào bān zǒu, xūyào tíqián duōjiǔ tōngzhī?)
  • Check application documents and costs with 申請需要準備哪些文件？ (Shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?) and 申請需要費用嗎？ (Shēnqǐng xūyào fèiyòng ma?)
  • Ask about rent payment methods and extra fees naturally in a Taiwan rental conversation.
A bright Taiwan apartment viewing scene with keys, a lease, and a phone showing Traditional Chinese rental phrases. The image introduces Taiwan Mandarin questions about fees, documents, repairs, and rent payment.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

維修是誰負責

Wéixiū shì shéi fùzé?

Who is responsible for repairs?

Meaning: Who is responsible for repairs?

When to use: Use this when you want to know whether the landlord, tenant, building management, or someone else handles maintenance.

Tip: This asks who is responsible, not who will personally come fix it.

請問，維修是誰負責？

Qǐngwèn, wéixiū shì shéi fùzé?

Excuse me, who is responsible for repairs?
如果冷氣壞了，維修是誰負責？

Rúguǒ lěngqì huài le, wéixiū shì shéi fùzé?

If the air conditioner breaks, who is responsible for repairs?

租約到期後可以續租嗎？

Zūyuē dàoqí hòu kěyǐ xùzū ma?

Can I renew the lease after it ends?

Meaning: Can I renew the lease after it ends?

When to use: Use this before signing if you may want to stay longer after the lease period finishes.

租約到期後可以續租嗎？

Zūyuē dàoqí hòu kěyǐ xùzū ma?

Can I renew the lease after it ends?
如果我住得習慣，租約到期後可以續租嗎？

Rúguǒ wǒ zhù de xíguàn, zūyuē dàoqí hòu kěyǐ xùzū ma?

If I get comfortable living here, can I renew the lease after it ends?

申請需要準備哪些文件？

Shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?

What documents do I need for the application?

Meaning: What documents do I need for the application?

When to use: Use this when applying for an apartment and checking what paperwork the landlord or agent needs.

申請需要準備哪些文件？

Shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?

What documents do I need for the application?
我想今天申請，請問申請需要準備哪些文件？

Wǒ xiǎng jīntiān shēnqǐng, qǐngwèn shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?

I’d like to apply today. What documents do I need for the application?

申請需要費用嗎？

Shēnqǐng xūyào fèiyòng ma?

Is there an application fee?

Meaning: Is there an application fee?

When to use: Use this to check whether applying costs money before you submit anything.

申請需要費用嗎？

Shēnqǐng xūyào fèiyòng ma?

Is there an application fee?
我想先確認一下，申請需要費用嗎？

Wǒ xiǎng xiān quèrèn yíxià, shēnqǐng xūyào fèiyòng ma?

I’d like to confirm first: is there an application fee?

房租可以用 ___ 付嗎？

Fángzū kěyǐ yòng ___ fù ma?

Can I pay the rent by ___?

Meaning: Can I pay the rent by ___?

When to use: Use this with a payment method, like bank transfer, cash, or credit card.

Tip: Put the payment method in the blank; don’t add another “by” word in English order.

房租可以用銀行轉帳付嗎？

Fángzū kěyǐ yòng yínháng zhuǎnzhàng fù ma?

Can I pay the rent by bank transfer?
房租可以用現金付嗎？

Fángzū kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn fù ma?

Can I pay the rent in cash?

還有什麼額外費用需要注意嗎？

Hái yǒu shénme éwài fèiyòng xūyào zhùyì ma?

Are there any extra fees I should know about?

Meaning: Are there any extra fees I should know about?

When to use: Use this to ask about costs beyond the listed rent, such as management fees, utilities, internet, or cleaning fees.

除了房租，還有什麼額外費用需要注意嗎？

Chúle fángzū, hái yǒu shénme éwài fèiyòng xūyào zhùyì ma?

Besides rent, are there any extra fees I should know about?
簽約前，我想問一下，還有什麼額外費用需要注意嗎？

Qiānyuē qián, wǒ xiǎng wèn yíxià, hái yǒu shénme éwài fèiyòng xūyào zhùyì ma?

Before signing, I’d like to ask: are there any extra fees I should know about?

簽約前可以先看一下租約內容嗎？

Qiānyuē qián kěyǐ xiān kàn yíxià zūyuē nèiróng ma?

Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?

Meaning: Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?

When to use: Use this polite question when you want time to review the lease terms before committing.

Tip: This is polite and normal to ask; you are not being difficult.

簽約前可以先看一下租約內容嗎？

Qiānyuē qián kěyǐ xiān kàn yíxià zūyuē nèiróng ma?

Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?
我想確認條款，簽約前可以先看一下租約內容嗎？

Wǒ xiǎng quèrèn tiáokuǎn, qiānyuē qián kěyǐ xiān kàn yíxià zūyuē nèiróng ma?

I’d like to check the terms. Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?

如果要搬走，需要提前多久通知？

Rúguǒ yào bān zǒu, xūyào tíqián duōjiǔ tōngzhī?

What is the notice period for moving out?

Meaning: What is the notice period for moving out?

When to use: Use this to ask how far in advance you must tell the landlord if you want to end the rental.

如果要搬走，需要提前多久通知？

Rúguǒ yào bān zǒu, xūyào tíqián duōjiǔ tōngzhī?

What is the notice period for moving out?
我想先了解一下，如果要搬走，需要提前多久通知？

Wǒ xiǎng xiān liǎojiě yíxià, rúguǒ yào bān zǒu, xūyào tíqián duōjiǔ tōngzhī?

I’d like to understand first: what is the notice period for moving out?

___ 之前有出過什麼問題嗎？

___ zhīqián yǒu chūguò shénme wèntí ma?

Has there been any problem with ___?

Meaning: Has there been any problem with ___?

When to use: Use this to ask about past problems with plumbing, electricity, noise, leaks, appliances, or the building.

水管之前有出過什麼問題嗎？

Shuǐguǎn zhīqián yǒu chūguò shénme wèntí ma?

Has there been any problem with the plumbing?
這裡的噪音之前有出過什麼問題嗎？

Zhèlǐ de zàoyīn zhīqián yǒu chūguò shénme wèntí ma?

Has there been any problem with noise here?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is viewing an apartment in Taiwan. David is the agent showing her the place.

Two people discuss an apartment viewing in Taiwan while looking over a lease in Traditional Chinese. The scene supports a Taiwan Mandarin dialogue about renting an apartment and asking practical questions before signing.

What is Anna mainly checking before deciding whether to rent the apartment?

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

我對這間很有興趣。申請需要準備哪些文件？

Wǒ duì zhè jiān hěn yǒu xìngqù. Shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?

I’m very interested in this place. What documents do I need for the application?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

主要是身分證明和工作證明。申請不需要費用。

Zhǔyào shì shēnfèn zhèngmíng hé gōngzuò zhèngmíng. Shēnqǐng bù xūyào fèiyòng.

Mainly ID and proof of employment. There’s no application fee.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

了解。房租可以用銀行轉帳付嗎？

Liǎojiě. Fángzū kěyǐ yòng yínháng zhuǎnzhàng fù ma?

Got it. Can I pay the rent by bank transfer?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

可以，很多房客都用轉帳。

Kěyǐ, hěn duō fángkè dōu yòng zhuǎnzhàng.

Yes, many tenants use bank transfer.

Portrait of Anna in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

那維修是誰負責？還有什麼額外費用需要注意嗎？

Nà wéixiū shì shéi fùzé? Hái yǒu shénme éwài fèiyòng xūyào zhùyì ma?

Then who is responsible for repairs? Are there any extra fees I should know about?

Portrait of David in a Traditional Chinese lesson dialogue

David

一般小維修房東負責，另外有管理費。簽約前你可以先看租約內容。

Yìbān xiǎo wéixiū fángdōng fùzé, lìngwài yǒu guǎnlǐ fèi. Qiānyuē qián nǐ kěyǐ xiān kàn zūyuē nèiróng.

Usually the landlord handles small repairs, and there is also a management fee. Before signing, you can review the lease.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase asks who handles maintenance and repair problems?

You want to ask if you can stay longer after the lease ends. Which phrase fits?

Which phrase asks about extra costs beyond the rent?

Which phrase asks how early you must tell the landlord before moving out?

Can I pay the rent by bank transfer?

房東，我每個月不方便付現金，房租可以用 ___ 付嗎？

Has there been any problem with the plumbing?

浴室洗手台排水有點慢，請問 ___ 之前有出過什麼問題嗎？

Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?

房東，我還沒簽名，簽約前可以先看一下 ___ 嗎？

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

維修是誰負責

Wéixiū shì shéi fùzé?

Who is responsible for repairs?

Say this phrase out loud:

租約到期後可以續租嗎？

Zūyuē dàoqí hòu kěyǐ xùzū ma?

Can I renew the lease after it ends?

Say this phrase out loud:

申請需要準備哪些文件？

Shēnqǐng xūyào zhǔnbèi nǎxiē wénjiàn?

What documents do I need for the application?

Say this phrase out loud:

申請需要費用嗎？

Shēnqǐng xūyào fèiyòng ma?

Is there an application fee?

Say this phrase out loud:

房租可以用 ___ 付嗎？

Fángzū kěyǐ yòng ___ fù ma?

Can I pay the rent by ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

還有什麼額外費用需要注意嗎？

Hái yǒu shénme éwài fèiyòng xūyào zhùyì ma?

Are there any extra fees I should know about?

Say this phrase out loud:

簽約前可以先看一下租約內容嗎？

Qiānyuē qián kěyǐ xiān kàn yíxià zūyuē nèiróng ma?

Can I see a copy of the lease before I sign?

Say this phrase out loud:

如果要搬走，需要提前多久通知？

Rúguǒ yào bān zǒu, xūyào tíqián duōjiǔ tōngzhī?

What is the notice period for moving out?

Say this phrase out loud:

___ 之前有出過什麼問題嗎？

___ zhīqián yǒu chūguò shénme wèntí ma?

Has there been any problem with ___?