How to Ask About the Minimum Lease in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask "What's the minimum lease?" in Mandarin, understand the key word 租期 (zūqī, lease term), and check whether a landlord is flexible about a shorter or longer contract.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you rent a home in a Chinese-speaking city, one of the first practical questions is how short a contract the landlord will accept. In Mandarin, the core word is 租期 (zūqī), meaning "lease term" or "rental period." The most useful question pattern is 最短租期是多久？ (Zuìduǎn zūqī shì duōjiǔ?), literally "The shortest lease term is how long?" This lesson teaches you that question, how to ask whether the term can be adjusted, and how to understand the answer. You will also learn 起租 (qǐzū), which describes when a lease starts, and 半年起租 (bàn nián qǐzū), a very common phrase meaning the lease starts at six months. All examples use simplified Chinese with pinyin and tone marks.
By the end, you can…
- ask what the minimum lease duration is in Mandarin.
- understand and say common lease lengths such as three months, six months, and one year.
- ask whether the lease term can be shortened or made flexible.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
最短租期是多久？
What is the minimum lease term?
Zuìduǎn zūqī shì duōjiǔ?
The most direct and standard way to ask. Use it at the start of a rental inquiry, in person, by phone, or in a message.
租期最短几个月？
How many months is the shortest lease term?
Zūqī zuìduǎn jǐ ge yuè?
A slightly more conversational version. 几个月 (jǐ ge yuè) asks "how many months" and expects a number in reply.
半年起租。
The lease starts at six months. / Six months minimum.
Bàn nián qǐzū.
A very common landlord answer. 起租 (qǐzū) means the lease begins at that length; it is not a question but a fixed condition.
可以短一点吗？
Can it be a bit shorter?
Kěyǐ duǎn yīdiǎn ma?
Use this to test flexibility after hearing the minimum. 一点 (yīdiǎn) softens the request and sounds polite rather than demanding.
可以商量吗？
Is it negotiable? / Can we discuss it?
Kěyǐ shāngliang ma?
A polite, open-ended way to ask whether the term or other conditions can be adjusted. Useful when the answer is not a firm no.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern is 最短租期是多久？ (Zuìduǎn zūqī shì duōjiǔ?). Here 最短 (zuìduǎn) means "shortest," 租期 (zūqī) means "lease term," 是 (shì) links the topic to the question, and 多久 (duōjiǔ) means "how long." You can replace 最短 with 一般 (yībān, "generally") to ask 一般租期是多久？ (Yībān zūqī shì duōjiǔ?), meaning "Generally, how long is the lease?" To ask about a specific length, use 租期可以三个月吗？ (Zūqī kěyǐ sān ge yuè ma?), "Can the lease term be three months?" Note that Chinese does not add a plural ending to 月 (yuè, month); the number plus 个 (ge) plus 月 is enough.
When to use it
Use 最短租期是多久？ when you are serious about renting and want a clear number. If the landlord answers 半年起租 (bàn nián qǐzū), you know the minimum is six months. If you need something shorter, reply 可以短一点吗？ (Kěyǐ duǎn yīdiǎn ma?) or 可以商量吗？ (Kěyǐ shāngliang ma?). These are polite and leave room for negotiation. In more formal listings or agency conversations, you may hear 起租期 (qǐzūqī) or 租赁期限 (zūlìn qīxiàn, "lease period"). The everyday spoken form remains 租期. Always confirm the answer with a number, for example 三个月 (sān ge yuè) or 一年 (yī nián), so there is no misunderstanding.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，请问最短租期是多久？
Hello, may I ask what the minimum lease term is?Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn zuìduǎn zūqī shì duōjiǔ?半年起租。
Six months minimum.Bàn nián qǐzū.可以短一点吗？我只需要三个月。
Can it be a bit shorter? I only need three months.Kěyǐ duǎn yīdiǎn ma? Wǒ zhǐ xūyào sān ge yuè.三个月也可以，不过租金会高一点。
Three months is also possible, but the rent will be a bit higher.Sān ge yuè yě kěyǐ, bùguò zūjīn huì gāo yīdiǎn.A little context goes a long way
In mainland Chinese rental markets, 半年起租 and 一年起租 (yī nián qǐzū, "one year minimum") are common, especially for furnished apartments. Shorter terms are often possible but may come with a higher monthly rent or a different deposit arrangement. Politeness matters: use 请问 (qǐngwèn, "may I ask") at the start and 可以商量吗？ rather than a blunt demand. Written listings may use 起租日期 (qǐzū rìqī) for the start date, which is different from the minimum duration, so read carefully.
One thing to watch for
Saying 最短租期是几个月？ (Zuìduǎn zūqī shì jǐ ge yuè?) when you want to ask "how long" in general, or adding a plural ending like 月s.
Try this instead: Use 多久 (duōjiǔ) for "how long" and 几个月 (jǐ ge yuè) only when you expect a number of months. Chinese nouns do not take plural endings: say 三个月 (sān ge yuè), not 三个月s. For example, ask 最短租期是多久？ and answer 半年起租。
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask "What is the minimum lease term?" in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
最短租期是多久？ (Zuìduǎn zūqī shì duōjiǔ?)
This uses 最短 (shortest), 租期 (lease term), and 多久 (how long). 租期最短几个月？ is also acceptable when you specifically expect a number of months.
2A landlord says 半年起租。 What does this mean?
Show a sample answer
The minimum lease is six months.
半年 (bàn nián) means half a year, and 起租 (qǐzū) means the lease starts at that length. It states a fixed minimum, not a question.
3How can you politely ask whether the lease term can be shortened?
Show a sample answer
可以短一点吗？ (Kěyǐ duǎn yīdiǎn ma?)
This asks "Can it be a bit shorter?" 一点 softens the request. 可以商量吗？ (Kěyǐ shāngliang ma?) also works when you want to ask whether the term is negotiable in general.
Ask 最短租期是多久？ to get the minimum lease, listen for 起租 in answers like 半年起租, and use 可以短一点吗？ or 可以商量吗？ to check flexibility politely.
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