Flat hunting – the enquiry
Xiao Fang wants to rent a flat. As a first step, he visits an estate agent.
Click on either pinyin or characters to listen to individual words. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the dialogue.
Hover the mouse over the Chinese characters for a second to see the pinyin version of that line. You can also click on the right-hand button for all pinyin to be displayed.
Agent:
您好，请问有什么可以帮您的？
Xiao Fang:
您好，我想看看房子。
Agent:
您想租房还是买房？
Xiao Fang:
我想在这儿附近租一套带家具的房子，所以想咨询一下，看看有没有合适的房源。
Agent:
好的，没问题。您想租多大的房子？几个人住？
Xiao Fang:
就我一个人住，所以一室一厅就可以了。附近的小区有空房吗？
Agent:
有，我们现在挂牌的就有好几套。你的预算是多少？
Xiao Fang:
这个……比较难说，每个月不要超过四千元吧。
Agent:
好。我们这里有这两套，您可以看一下它们的照片，给您。
(The agent shows Xiao Fang some pictures of the flats.)
Agent:
这套是一室一厅，每个月四千元；另外那套也是一室一厅，每个月三千八百元。
Xiao Fang:
这两套房子的总体面积是多少？您能不能多跟我说说？
Agent:
第一套房子的总体面积不大，只有三十五平方米，可是装修很精致。第二套家具配备比较基本，但是卧室和客厅都很明亮宽敞，总面积有四十平方米。
Xiao Fang:
这两套房子分别在哪里？
Agent:
都在附近的小区里。
Xiao Fang:
好的。您有没有别的可以给我看看？
Agent:
这里还有一套很不错，装修很新，家具也很齐全，总面积是四十五平方米。 它的价格相对高一些，每个月四千五百元，但是物有所值。
Xiao Fang:
听起来都不错啊。您能帮我安排看房吗？
Agent:
当然，我会联系房东，然后跟您预约看房。您想什么时候入住，打算租多久？我们的合同一般最短是六个月。
Xiao Fang:
我想尽快入住。先租一年吧，一年以后也许会续租。
Agent:
Hello, how can I help?
Xiao Fang:
Hello, I am looking for accommodation.
Agent:
Do you want to rent or buy a place?
Xiao Fang:
I want to rent a furnished flat nearby, so I'd like some information to see if you have anything suitable.
Agent:
Sure, no problem. How big a flat are you looking for? And for how many people?
Xiao Fang:
It is just for myself, so a one-bedroom flat would be fine. Are there any vacant places in the nearby apartment complexes?
Agent:
Yes indeed, we have got quite a few on our books currently. What is your budget?
Xiao Fang:
Umm…it's difficult to say. I guess no more than four thousand yuan a month.
Agent:
OK. Well, we have these two flats. You can have a look at some pictures, here.
(The agent shows Xiao Fang some pictures of the flats.)
Agent:
This one is a one-bedroom flat, at four thousand yuan a month; we also have this other one, at three thousand eight hundred yuan a month.
Xiao Fang:
How big are these two flats? Can you tell me a bit more about them?
Agent:
The first one is not very big, it is only thirty-five square metres, but the decoration is elegant. The second one has only got basic furnishings, but the bedroom and the living room are both bright and spacious and it is forty square metres.
Xiao Fang:
Where are these two flats situated respectively?
Agent:
They both are in nearby apartment complexes.
Xiao Fang:
OK. Do you have anything else to show me?
Agent:
Here is another very nice one, it's been decorated recently; it is generously furnished and is forty-five square metres. Its price is a little bit higher, at four thousand five hundred yuan a month, but it is good value for money.
Xiao Fang:
They all sound quite good. Can you organise viewings of these flats for me?
Agent:
Sure, I will contact the landlords and book some visits for you. When did you intend to move in and for how long? Usually the minimum contract is for six months.
Xiao Fang:
I want to move in as soon as possible. I'll sign for a year to start with, but I might renew the contract afterwards.
These are notes about potentially difficult key expressions. They are listed in the order in which they appear in the dialogue.
1. 一套房子
我想在这儿附近租一套带家具的房子。I want to rent a furnished flat nearby.
房子 is a generic word for 'dwelling'. 套 is used here as the corresponding measure word which literally means 'set', it indicates that the dwelling referred to is a flat, i.e. a set of rooms.
Similarly:
一栋房子 means 'a (detached) house' because 栋 is the measure word mainly used for building, hence indicating a dwelling standing on its own.
一幢房子 means 'a multi-storey building' because 幢 is mainly used for skyscrapers, hence indicating a high-rise dwelling.
These few examples show how measure words can provide some extra information about the related noun (e.g. shape, size...) and thus clarify its meaning.
2. 多大
您想租多大的房子？How big a flat are you looking for?
你打算租多久？How long do you want to rent it for?
多 (lit. a lot) together with an adjective indicates a 'how…' question, e.g. 多大 how big...?, 多长 how long (length)...?, 多久 how long (time)...?, 多重 how heavy...?
Note that 多大 can also be used to ask a person's age. 你多大？How old are you? (lit. You how big?)
3. 一室一厅
一室一厅就可以了。A one-bedroom flat would be fine.
一室一厅 indicates the number of rooms in a flat. 室 (lit. room) refers to bedroom (but can also be used for study room and guest room) and 厅 (lit. hall) refers to living room and dining room.
三室两厅 means 'a three-bedroom and two living-room flat'.
4. 空房
附近的小区有空房吗？Are there any vacant places in the nearby apartment complexes?
空房 literally means 'empty room'. When a closely related adjective and noun construction is a frequently used fixed expression, the particle 的 (used to connect the adjective and the noun) can be omitted.
5. 的
我们现在挂牌的就有好几套。We have got quite a few on our books currently. (lit. We currently |list 'de'| there are quite a few.)
The structural particle 的 is used here after the verb 挂牌 'to list' to form a noun phrase, meaning flats on the list.
6. 好
我们现在挂牌的就有好几套。We have got quite a few on our books currently.
好 (lit. good) is used here as an adverb, indicating 'a lot'. 几 means 'a few' and 好几 means 'quite a few'. 好 can also be used before an adjective, meaning 'very much', e.g. 这里的人好多。There are so many people here. (lit. People here | quite a lot.)
7. 总体面积
这两套房子的总体面积是多少？What is the overall size of each of these two flats?
总体面积 means 'overall size' and it is composed of the adjective 总体 'overall' and the noun 面积 'size'. The particle 的, which is used to connect an adjective and a noun, is omitted here. This is because this combination is so frequently used that it has become a fixed expression.
8. 另外, 别的 and 其他
另外那套也是一室一厅。The other one is a one-bedroom flat as well.
您有没有别的可以给我看看？Do you have anything else to show me?
其他人都已经回家了。All the other people have gone home.
These three words all mean 'other'.
另外 means 'in addition' and refers to something specific if it is followed by a noun.
别的 means 'something else' and is not specific.
其他 refers to 'the rest of the group'.
9. 高一些
它的价格相对高一些。Its price is a little bit higher in comparison.
高一些 literally means 'high by a bit'. 相对 meaning 'relatively' indicates some form of comparison, thus the complement一些 is put after the adjective 高.
10. 物有所值
物有所值 is a four-character idiom meaning 'worth the money'. It literally means 'the item has its value'.
11. 会
一年以后也学会续租。I might renew the contract after a year.
会 here does not mean 'can'. It is used to express a prediction or intention.
Customer profile
The estate agent has made a note of Xiao Fang's profile and requirements. Complete the form below by dragging in the correct data. You can access the English translation of the form's list by hovering your mouse over the Chinese characters. Please note that there are more draggable items than needed. Check your answers.
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Matching accommodation on offer
The agent has recommended three flats. Complete the following table by dragging into the boxes the correct details described in the dialogue. All the draggable items need to be used. You can access the English translation of the three specifications considered by hovering the mouse over the Chinese characters. Check your answers.
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