How to Ask If Utilities Are Included in Rent in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask 'Are utilities included?' in Mandarin Chinese, understand common extra costs, and discuss rental fees with clear, polite phrases.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When renting an apartment in a Chinese-speaking area, one of the first questions you need to ask is whether utilities are included in the rent. In Mandarin Chinese, this is straightforward once you know the key words. You will use 房租 (fángzū, rent) and 水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi, water and electricity fees). The core question is 房租包括水电费吗？ (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?), meaning 'Does the rent include water and electricity fees?' This lesson gives you the exact phrases to ask about utilities, clarify extra costs, and avoid surprises. You will also learn how to ask about other common fees such as gas, internet, and management fees. By the end, you can confidently discuss rental costs in Mandarin.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether utilities are included in the rent using 房租包括水电费吗？
- ask about specific extra costs such as gas, internet, and management fees.
- understand and respond to a landlord's answer about included or separate utilities.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
房租包括水电费吗？
Does the rent include water and electricity fees?
Fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?
The most direct way to ask if utilities are included. Use 吗 (ma) to form a yes/no question.
水电费另算吗？
Are water and electricity fees calculated separately?
Shuǐdiànfèi lìng suàn ma?
Use this if you suspect utilities are not included. 另算 (lìng suàn) means 'calculated separately'.
包括哪些费用？
Which fees are included?
Bāokuò nǎxiē fèiyòng?
Ask this to get a list of what the rent covers. 哪些 (nǎxiē) means 'which ones' (plural).
煤气费谁付？
Who pays the gas fee?
Méiqìfèi shéi fù?
Use 谁付 (shéi fù) to ask who is responsible for a specific fee. 煤气费 (méiqìfèi) is gas fee.
还有别的费用吗？
Are there any other fees?
Hái yǒu biéde fèiyòng ma?
A general question to uncover hidden costs. 别的 (biéde) means 'other'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The key pattern is [费用] + 包括 + [项目] + 吗？ For example, 房租包括水电费吗？ (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?) means 'Does the rent include water and electricity fees?' You can replace 水电费 with other items: 煤气费 (méiqìfèi, gas fee), 网费 (wǎngfèi, internet fee), 物业费 (wùyèfèi, management fee). To ask 'Who pays...?', use [费用] + 谁付？ For example, 电费谁付？ (Diànfèi shéi fù?) means 'Who pays the electricity fee?' To ask 'Is it separate?', use [费用] + 另算吗？ For example, 网费另算吗？ (Wǎngfèi lìng suàn ma?) means 'Is the internet fee separate?'
When to use it
Use these questions before signing a rental contract. Start with 房租包括水电费吗？ to get a clear yes or no. If the answer is 不包括 (bù bāokuò, not included), follow up with 水电费另算吗？ to confirm they are separate. Then ask 还有别的费用吗？ to find out about other costs like 物业费 (wùyèfèi, property management fee) or 取暖费 (qǔnuǎnfèi, heating fee). In many Chinese cities, 取暖费 is only relevant in northern areas during winter. Always ask for a written list if possible. If you are unsure, say 请写下来 (Qǐng xiě xiàlái, Please write it down).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？
Hello, may I ask, does the rent include water and electricity fees?Nǐhǎo, qǐngwèn fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?不包括。水电费另算。
Not included. Water and electricity fees are calculated separately.Bù bāokuò. Shuǐdiànfèi lìng suàn.那煤气费和网费呢？
What about gas and internet fees?Nà méiqìfèi hé wǎngfèi ne?煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。
I pay the gas fee, you pay the internet fee. There is also a management fee, 100 yuan per month.Méiqìfèi wǒ fù, wǎngfèi nǐ fù. Hái yǒu wùyèfèi, měi yuè yìbǎi kuài.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, rental listings often state 押一付三 (yā yī fù sān), meaning one month's deposit and three months' rent paid upfront. Utilities like water, electricity, and gas are usually not included unless explicitly stated. In northern cities, heating fees (取暖费) may be separate and charged seasonally. Always clarify who pays each fee before signing. Politeness is shown by using 请问 (qǐngwèn, may I ask) at the start. Tones are crucial: 水 (shuǐ) is third tone, 电 (diàn) is fourth tone. Mispronouncing tones can cause confusion.
One thing to watch for
Assuming 水电费 covers all utilities. It only means water and electricity. Gas, internet, and management fees are separate.
Try this instead: Ask specifically about each utility. For example, say 煤气费包括吗？ (Méiqìfèi bāokuò ma?, Is the gas fee included?) and 网费包括吗？ (Wǎngfèi bāokuò ma?, Is the internet fee included?). Do not rely on 水电费 alone.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Does the rent include water and electricity fees?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
房租包括水电费吗？ (Fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?)
This uses the pattern [费用] + 包括 + [项目] + 吗？. It is the most direct way. You could also ask 水电费包括在房租里吗？ (Shuǐdiànfèi bāokuò zài fángzū lǐ ma?), which is equally correct.
2If the landlord says 不包括 (bù bāokuò), what does it mean?
Show a sample answer
It means 'not included'.
不包括 is the negative form of 包括 (include). It indicates that the utilities are not part of the rent. You should then ask 另算吗？ (lìng suàn ma?, calculated separately?) to confirm.
3How do you ask 'Who pays the gas fee?'
Show a sample answer
煤气费谁付？ (Méiqìfèi shéi fù?)
This uses [费用] + 谁付？. 谁 (shéi) means 'who', and 付 (fù) means 'pay'. You can replace 煤气费 with any other fee, such as 电费 (diànfèi, electricity fee).
Always ask 房租包括水电费吗？ before renting. Clarify each utility separately, and remember that 水电费 only covers water and electricity. Use 请问 to stay polite.
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