How to Ask About Renting an Apartment in Mandarin Chinese: Short-Term Availability
Learn to ask whether an apartment is available for one month in Mandarin Chinese, understand key rental terms, and handle a simple short-term rental conversation with confidence.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you find a short-term apartment in a Chinese-speaking city, the first question you need is whether it is actually available for the length of time you want. In Mandarin, this is not a word-for-word translation of English. You will use the verb 租 (zū, to rent), the time expression 一个月 (yí ge yuè, one month), and the pattern 可以……吗？ (kěyǐ... ma?, can...?) to ask politely. This lesson gives you the exact phrases for asking about one-month availability, checking price and deposit, and confirming what is included. You will also learn to avoid a common mistake: using 借 (jiè) for renting. In Mandarin, 借 usually means 'to borrow' or 'to lend', not 'to rent' in the housing sense. By the end, you will be able to ask a landlord or agent directly and understand the basic answer.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an apartment is available for one month.
- understand and use key short-term rental terms such as 租, 押金, and 房租.
- ask how much the rent is and whether utilities are included.
- confirm a one-month stay with a landlord or agent.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这套公寓可以租一个月吗？
Can this apartment be rented for one month?
Zhè tào gōngyù kěyǐ zū yí ge yuè ma?
Use 这套 for a whole apartment unit. 可以……吗？ makes the question polite and common in daily speech.
我想租一个月。
I want to rent for one month.
Wǒ xiǎng zū yí ge yuè.
A direct statement of your intention. 想 softens the request compared with 要.
房租多少钱一个月？
How much is the rent per month?
Fángzū duōshao qián yí ge yuè?
房租 means rent. 多少钱 is the standard way to ask 'how much money'. 一个月 at the end means 'per month'.
押金是多少？
How much is the deposit?
Yājīn shì duōshao?
押金 is a required deposit. In short-term rentals it may be one month's rent or a fixed amount.
水电网费包括吗？
Are water, electricity, and internet included?
Shuǐ diàn wǎng fèi bāokuò ma?
水 water, 电 electricity, 网 internet, 费 fees. 包括 means 'include'. This is a key question for short-term stays.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 可以 + verb + time expression + 吗？ For example, 可以租一个月吗？ (Kěyǐ zū yí ge yuè ma?, Can I rent for one month?) You can replace 租 with other verbs: 可以住一个月吗？ (Kěyǐ zhù yí ge yuè ma?, Can I stay for one month?) The time expression 一个月 comes after the verb. Do not put it before the verb as in English word order. To be more specific, add the apartment: 这套公寓可以租一个月吗？ (Zhè tào gōngyù kěyǐ zū yí ge yuè ma?, Can this apartment be rented for one month?) If you want to ask about a shorter stay, use 一个星期 (yí ge xīngqī, one week) or 几天 (jǐ tiān, a few days).
When to use it
Use these questions when you are speaking directly to a landlord, an agent, or a short-term rental host. Start with 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello), then ask 这套公寓可以租一个月吗？ If the answer is 可以 (kěyǐ, yes/can), follow with 房租多少钱一个月？ and 押金是多少？ If the answer is 不可以 (bù kěyǐ, no/cannot), ask 可以租多久？ (Kěyǐ zū duō jiǔ?, How long can I rent?) For online listings, you can send the same questions in a message. Keep your tone polite by adding 请问 (qǐngwèn, may I ask) at the beginning: 请问，这套公寓可以租一个月吗？
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，请问这套公寓可以租一个月吗？
Hello, may I ask, can this apartment be rented for one month?Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn zhè tào gōngyù kěyǐ zū yí ge yuè ma?可以。房租三千块一个月，押金也是三千。
Yes. The rent is 3,000 yuan per month, and the deposit is also 3,000.Kěyǐ. Fángzū sānqiān kuài yí ge yuè, yājīn yě shì sānqiān.水电网费包括吗？
Are water, electricity, and internet included?Shuǐ diàn wǎng fèi bāokuò ma?水费包括，电费和网费不包括。
Water is included; electricity and internet are not included.Shuǐfèi bāokuò, diànfèi hé wǎngfèi bù bāokuò.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, short-term rentals are often arranged through agents or online platforms, and the word 押金 (deposit) is standard. A one-month stay may be called 短租 (duǎnzū, short-term rent). Landlords may ask for 押一付一 (yā yī fù yī, one month deposit and one month rent paid upfront) or 押一付三 (yā yī fù sān, one month deposit and three months rent). If you only need one month, say so clearly at the beginning, because many standard leases are for six months or one year. Politeness matters: use 请问 and 谢谢 (xièxie, thank you) even in a quick message.
One thing to watch for
Using 借 (jiè) to mean 'rent' an apartment, as in 我想借一个月.
Try this instead: In Mandarin, 借 usually means 'borrow' or 'lend', not 'rent' housing. Use 租 (zū) instead: 我想租一个月。 (Wǒ xiǎng zū yí ge yuè., I want to rent for one month.) For a landlord renting out a place, use 出租 (chūzū): 这套公寓出租。 (Zhè tào gōngyù chūzū., This apartment is for rent.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Can this apartment be rented for one month?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
这套公寓可以租一个月吗？
This uses 这套公寓 (this apartment), 可以 (can), 租 (rent), 一个月 (one month), and 吗 (question particle). You could also say 这套公寓可以租一个月吗？ with 请问 at the start for extra politeness.
2What does 押金 mean, and how do you ask how much it is?
Show a sample answer
押金 means 'deposit'. Ask: 押金是多少？
押金 is the standard term for a rental deposit. 是多少 is a common way to ask 'how much is it'. You may also hear 押金多少钱？, which is equally acceptable.
3Translate into Mandarin: 'Are water and electricity included?'
Show a sample answer
水费电费包括吗？
水费 (water fee) and 电费 (electricity fee) are the specific terms. 包括吗 asks 'are they included?' You can also say 包括水费电费吗？ with the same meaning.
To ask about a one-month short-term rental in Mandarin, use 可以租一个月吗？ and follow with 房租多少钱一个月？ and 押金是多少？ Remember to use 租, not 借, for renting.
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