If you are soon moving to China or already living there, it is possible that you will need to rent an apartment. For some people, such as English teachers, an apartment might be included in their contract. Students may live in dorms, which is prepared through the school. So, this may not seem relevant to you at first, but knowing how to rent an apartment can come handy and it can't hurt to be independent. Here is a guide to some of the things you should consider, as well as relevant vocabulary you will need when renting an apartment in China.

Factors you need to consider:

1. 户型 (hùxíng) Type or size of apartment

You can find apartments to rent online or though real estate agents, which speckle every corner in China. These intermediaries will put you in contact with the apartment owners. When you go to rent an apartment, the first question that the "房东 (fángdōng) house-owner" or agent will ask is:

Nín xiǎng zū shénme hùxíng de fángzi?
您   想     租   什么     户型     的 房子？
What kind of apartment do you want to rent?

Types of apartments are...Read more

2. 家电 (jiādiàn) Household appliances

Next, you need to consider what kind of appliances you want in your apartment. You can ask the home owner about what "家电 (jiādiàn)" are included, this word is the shortened form of "家用电器 (jiāyòng diànqì)." This includes things like a "冰箱 (bīngxiāng) refrigerator," "空调 (kōngtiáo) air-conditioner," "热水器 (rèshuǐqì) hot water heater" etc.

So you should ask the apartment-owner:

A: Jiādiàn dōu qíquán ma?
A: 家电      都   齐全     吗？
A: Is there a complete set of household appliances?

B: Kōngtiáo, bīngxiāng, rèshuǐqì... shénme dōu yǒu.
B: 空调、       冰箱、      热水器……  什么   都    有。
B: Air-conditioning, refrigerator, hot water heater… it has everything.

Click "Read more" to know more things you must ask when renting an apartment in China.