HSK 4Lesson 34
Renting a apartment takes a few conversations. You will phone a landlord about the rent and terms, look around a apartment with a friend, report a broken light and a kitchen tap that won't turn off, and ask a former tenant whether the apartment is warm in winter and cool in summer.
You will learn to ask about a apartment for rent, look around it, ask the landlord for repairs, and say whether a room is warm or cool.
Part 1 · 12 new words
Contains 5 words
to rent
rent
landlord
to rent out
terms; conditions; facilities
Contains 3 words
furniture
living room
Contains 2 words
to repair; to fix
to repair
Contains 2 words
warm
cool; cold
Part 2 · 8 phrases
我想在学校旁边租房子。
I'd like to rent a place near the school.
房东每个月一号来拿房租。
The landlord comes to collect the rent on the first of every month.
门口写着出租，下面有一个电话号码。
A sign at the door says for rent, with a phone number below it.
这里的条件不错，有床，有电视，还有电脑。
The place is well equipped: a bed, a TV, and a computer.
房子里的家具都是新的，有床，有电视，也有椅子。
The furniture in the apartment is all new: a bed, a TV and chairs.
客厅很大，厕所也很干净。
The living room is big, and the bathroom is clean too.
Part 3 · 4 conversations
Liu Ming phones a landlord for Wang Yixue about a apartment he saw advertised, asks about the rent and terms, and arranges a viewing for her.
刘明Liu Ming
您好，我看到您在出租房子，我帮朋友问一下，还没租出去吧？
Hello, I saw you're renting out a apartment. I'm asking for a friend. It hasn't been taken yet, has it?
房东Landlord
还没有。两个房间，一个客厅，房租一个月三千。
Not yet. Two bedrooms and a living room, and the rent is three thousand a month.
toilet; bathroom
这个手表坏了，我拿去修理，一个小时就修好了。
My watch was broken; I took it to be repaired, and it was fixed within an hour.
房间里冬天很暖和，夏天也比外面凉。
The room is warm in winter and cooler than outside in summer.
刘明Liu Ming
租房子有什么条件？
What are the terms for renting?
房东Landlord
最少租一年，要先付三个月的房租。
At least a year, and you pay three months' rent in advance.
刘明Liu Ming
家具都有吗？房租能不能便宜一点儿？
Is it furnished? And could the rent be a little lower?
房东Landlord
家具都有，床是新的。你朋友如果租两年，我可以少收两百。
It's fully furnished, and the beds are new. If your friend rents for two years, I can take two hundred off.
刘明Liu Ming
那明天上午我朋友先去看看房子，可以吗？
Then could my friend come and look at the apartment tomorrow morning first?
Wang Yixue and Bai Jiayue look around the apartment Liu Ming phoned about, and decide what to ask the landlord.
王一雪Wang Yixue
你看，客厅很大，窗户在南边，下午有太阳。
Look, the living room is big and the windows face south, so it gets the afternoon sun.
白家月Bai Jiayue
不错。厕所在哪儿？
Nice. Where is the bathroom?
王一雪Wang Yixue
在两个房间中间，有点儿小，可是很干净。
Between the two bedrooms. It's a bit small, but it's clean.
白家月Bai Jiayue
这些家具呢？我看椅子太旧了。
What about the furniture? The chairs look too old to me.
王一雪Wang Yixue
桌子还能用，椅子我想换两把新的。
The table is still fine, but I'd like two new chairs.
白家月Bai Jiayue
那你先问问房东，看他能不能换。
Then ask the landlord first and see if he can replace them.
Li Wen calls the landlord, Mr. Zhang, because the bathroom light is broken and the kitchen tap won't turn off, and they arrange a repair.
李文Li Wen
张先生，厕所的灯坏了，能找人修一下吗？
Mr. Zhang, the bathroom light is broken. Could you get someone to fix it?
房东Landlord
今天太晚了，我明天找人来修理。
It's too late today; I'll get someone to come and repair it tomorrow.
李文Li Wen
还有，厨房的水一直关不上。
Also, the kitchen tap won't turn off properly.
房东Landlord
没问题，让他一起修。他明天下午两点到，你在家吗？
No problem, I'll have him fix that too. He'll come at two tomorrow afternoon. Will you be home?
李文Li Wen
下午我有课，四点以后才回来。
I have class in the afternoon and won't be back until after four.
房东Landlord
那我让他五点来。
Then I'll ask him to come at five.
Anne asks Liu Xiaoxue, who lived in the apartment last year, whether it is comfortable in each season, and decides to rent it.
安妮Anne
小雪，你去年住过这儿。这个房子冬天暖和吗？
Xiaoxue, you lived here last year. Is this apartment warm in winter?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
很暖和，冬天里面也不冷。
Very warm; it isn't cold inside even in winter.
安妮Anne
夏天呢？会不会很热？
And summer? Does it get very hot?
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
不会，北边的那个房间比较凉，晚上睡觉还会觉得有点儿冷。
No, the room on the north side is quite cool; at night you can even feel a bit cold.
安妮Anne
那夏天不用开空调，电费也不会太高。
So I wouldn't need the air conditioning in summer, and the electricity bill wouldn't be too high.
刘小雪Liu Xiaoxue
对。说真的，这里的条件比我现在住的地方好多了。我是因为想跟朋友一起住才搬走的。
Right. Honestly, this place is much better than where I live now. I only moved out because I wanted to live with a friend.
安妮Anne
好，我就租这个。你跟我一起去找房东吧。
Okay, I'll rent this one. Come with me to see the landlord.
