When you rent a place in Chinese, the key question is often whether utilities are included in the rent. In this workshop you will practice asking about water, electricity, gas, internet, and management fees, and you will learn to understand a landlord's reply about who pays what. You will use short, realistic exchanges and check your understanding step by step.
Asking Whether Utilities Are Included
Start with a polite opening and then ask your main question. The line «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？» means "Hello, may I ask, does the rent include water and electricity fees?" This is a complete, polite way to begin. If you want a shorter version, you can use «房租包括水电费吗？», which means "Does the rent include water and electricity fees?" Both ask about the same thing: whether water and electricity are part of the rent. After you ask, listen for the answer. A common reply is «不包括。水电费另算。», which means "Not included. Water and electricity fees are calculated separately." The reply tells you two things: the rent does not cover water and electricity, and those fees are handled on their own.
Asking About Other Fees and Understanding Who Pays
Once you know water and electricity are separate, you may want to ask about other costs. The line «那煤气费和网费呢？» means "What about gas and internet fees?" This follows up on the first answer and keeps the same topic of fees. The reply «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。» means "I pay the gas fee, you pay the internet fee. There is also a management fee, 100 yuan per month." Here the speaker divides the costs: the other person pays gas, you pay internet, and there is an additional management fee of 100 yuan each month. If you only want to ask who pays gas, you can use «煤气费谁付？», which means "Who pays the gas fee?" And if you want a general question about which fees are included, use «包括哪些费用？», which means "Which fees are included?"
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
房租包括水电费吗？
Does the rent include water and electricity fees?
Fángzū bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi ma?
水电费另算吗？
Are water and electricity fees calculated separately?
Shuǐdiànfèi lìng suàn ma?
包括哪些费用？
Which fees are included?
Bāokuò nǎxiē fèiyòng?
煤气费谁付？
Who pays the gas fee?
Méiqìfèi shéi fù?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？
Hello, may I ask, does the rent include water and electricity fees?不包括。水电费另算。
Not included. Water and electricity fees are calculated separately.那煤气费和网费呢？
What about gas and internet fees?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.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Answer About Rent and Utilities
You are a tenant asking a landlord about a rental. The landlord will answer your questions. Read your part aloud, then read the landlord's part aloud, then switch roles and read both parts again.
Your task: Tenant: Say the polite opening and main question using «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？». Landlord: Reply using «不包括。水电费另算。». Tenant: Ask about gas and internet using «那煤气费和网费呢？». Landlord: Reply using «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。». After you finish, switch roles: the tenant reads «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？» and «那煤气费和网费呢？», and the landlord reads «不包括。水电费另算。» and «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。». Keep the same order of question, reply, follow-up question, and reply.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Correct Meaning
You have just asked whether the rent includes water and electricity. Now read the landlord's reply and choose what it means. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: Read the reply «不包括。水电费另算。». Then choose the correct meaning: A) Water and electricity are included in the rent. B) Water and electricity are not included and are calculated separately. C) The landlord pays the gas fee. After choosing, read «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。» and answer this question: who pays the internet fee? Choose A) The landlord pays the internet fee. B) You pay the internet fee. C) The internet fee is included in the rent.
Recall With Correct Roles: Who Pays What
Work with a partner or read both roles yourself. One person is the tenant and one is the landlord. The tenant asks about fees, and the landlord explains who pays what.
Your task: Tenant: Ask the main question using «房租包括水电费吗？». Landlord: Answer using «不包括。水电费另算。». Tenant: Ask about gas and internet using «那煤气费和网费呢？». Landlord: Answer using «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。». Then, without looking at the lines, say who pays the gas fee, who pays the internet fee, and what the management fee is. After that, switch roles and repeat the exchange in the same order.
Common questions
What is the difference between «房租包括水电费吗？» and «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？»?
«房租包括水电费吗？» means "Does the rent include water and electricity fees?" «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？» means "Hello, may I ask, does the rent include water and electricity fees?" «你好，请问房租包括水电费吗？» adds a polite opening, but both ask the same main question about water and electricity being included in the rent.
How do I understand «煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。» when it talks about gas, internet, and a management fee?
«煤气费我付，网费你付。还有物业费，每月一百块。» means "I pay the gas fee, you pay the internet fee. There is also a management fee, 100 yuan per month." It divides the costs: the speaker pays gas, you pay internet, and there is an extra management fee of 100 yuan each month.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask about utilities includedChecked September 2026
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