Renting a flat in China means reading listings, asking about price, and checking a few details before you sign. HSK 3 is the first level where you have enough language to do it without help. The level adds about 500 new words, bringing the total to 1,000.
The words below cover the rooms, the furniture and the questions that come up in almost every rental conversation.
Rooms in a Home
- 房子 (fángzi) house, flat
- 房间 (fángjiān) room
- 卧室 (wòshì) bedroom
- 客厅 (kètīng) living room
- 厨房 (chúfáng) kitchen
- 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) bathroom
- 阳台 (yángtái) balcony
Note that 房子 can mean a whole flat, not only a house. Context decides.
Furniture and Fixtures
- 床 (chuáng) bed
- 桌子 (zhuōzi) table, desk
- 椅子 (yǐzi) chair
- 沙发 (shāfā) sofa
- 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) fridge
- 洗衣机 (xǐyījī) washing machine
- 空调 (kōngtiáo) air conditioner
When a listing says 家具齐全 (jiājù qíquán), it means the flat comes fully furnished.
Describing a Room
HSK 3 introduces 又……又…… for "both… and…", which fits descriptions well.
The 有 sentence pattern puts the place first: 客厅里 + 有 + thing.
Asking About a Rental
These five questions cover most of what you need.
- 房租多少钱一个月？How much is the rent per month?
- 房子在哪儿？Where is the flat?
- 离地铁站远不远？Is it far from the subway station?
- 可以看房子吗？Can I view the flat?
- 什么时候可以住？When can I move in?
The 离……远不远 Pattern
HSK 3 tests the 离 (lí) structure for distance. The full form is A 离 B 远 / 近, and the question form repeats the adjective: 远不远.
Price and Payment Words
- 房租 (fángzū) rent
- 押金 (yājīn) deposit
- 合同 (hétong) contract
- 水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi) water and electricity charges
- 中介 (zhōngjiè) letting agent
A common arrangement is 押一付三 — one month deposit, three months paid up front. Ask before you assume.
Two Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Mixing up 房租 and 押金
房租 is the monthly rent. 押金 is the deposit you get back. Asking 押金多少钱 for the rent will confuse the agent.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the 里 in location phrases
屋子有桌子 sounds incomplete. You want 屋子里有一张桌子 — the 里 marks the space you are inside.
The Neighbourhood
Location words matter as soon as you describe a home.
- 附近 (fùjìn) nearby
- 旁边 (pángbiān) beside
- 对面 (duìmiàn) opposite
- 中间 (zhōngjiān) between, in the middle
- 超市 (chāoshì) supermarket
- 银行 (yínháng) bank
Reporting a Problem
Things break. HSK 3 gives you enough language to say so.
- 坏了 (huài le) broken, not working
- 修 (xiū) to repair
- 停电 (tíngdiàn) power cut
- 漏水 (lòushuǐ) water leak
能不能…… is the polite way to ask a favour. Adding 一下 softens the request further.
Before You Sign
Read the contract twice. Check the rent, the deposit, and how long the agreement runs. Ask who pays when something breaks. A short question now saves a long argument later.
What HSK 3 Actually Tests
HSK 3 has 70 questions and takes about 83 minutes. Listening takes 30 questions in about 23 minutes, reading 30 questions in 30 minutes, and writing 10 items in 20 minutes.
Descriptive passages about places are common in the reading section, so room and furniture words pay off twice.
When these words feel automatic, try a free HSK 3 practice test and browse the other HSK 3 study guides. For the travel side of the level, see HSK 3 travel conversations.
Stating What You Want
When you view a flat, say what you need. 我想要一个离地铁站近的房子。I want a flat close to the subway station. 想要 plus a noun is the polite way to state a preference in Chinese.
How to Practise
Describe your own home in six sentences. Then describe the flat you would want, using 又……又…… and 离……远/近 at least once each.