yāyīfùsān: 押一付三 - Deposit One, Pay Three (Rental Term)

• Keywords: ya yi fu san, ya1yi1fu4san1, 押一付三, Chinese rental terms, rent in China, paying rent in China, apartment deposit China, renting an apartment in China, 房租 (fángzū), 押金 (yājīn), what does 押一付三 mean.
• Summary: “押一付三 (yā yī fù sān)” is a standard and crucial rental payment term in China, meaning “one month's rent as a security deposit, and three months' rent paid in advance.” Understanding this phrase is essential for anyone looking to rent an apartment in China, as it dictates the significant upfront cost required before moving in. This system requires the tenant to pay a total of four months' rent at the beginning of the lease.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yā yī fù sān
• Part of Speech: Set phrase / Noun phrase
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A rental payment structure requiring a one-month security deposit and three months of rent paid upfront.
• In a Nutshell: “押一付三” is the most common “code” you'll hear from landlords (房东) and real estate agents (中介) in China. It's not just a suggestion; it's the standard payment plan. It means you must have a large sum of cash ready when you sign the lease. If the monthly rent is 5,000 RMB, “押一付三” means you need to hand over 20,000 RMB (5,000 for the deposit + 15,000 for the first three months of rent) to get the keys.

• 押 (yā): To press down; to use as security or collateral. In this context, it directly refers to the security deposit, or 押金 (yājīn).
• 一 (yī): The number “one”.
• 付 (fù): To pay.
• 三 (sān): The number “three”.

The characters combine literally and logically to mean “Deposit one (month's rent), Pay three (months' rent).” It's a clear, concise instruction.

“押一付三” reveals a key aspect of the Chinese rental market: a strong emphasis on financial security for the landlord. This practice ensures the landlord is protected against a tenant suddenly leaving or failing to pay rent for several months.

• Comparison to Western Norms: In many Western countries, like the United States or the UK, the standard is typically “first month's rent and a one-month security deposit.” This means you pay two months' worth of rent upfront. The Chinese “押一付三” requires paying four months' worth of rent upfront, a significantly higher financial barrier. This can be a major hurdle for young graduates, new arrivals to a city, or foreigners unfamiliar with the system.
• Underlying Values: This system reflects a more cautious, risk-averse business culture. While not explicitly about “trust,” it creates a system where trust is less of a factor; the financial arrangement provides the security. It places the financial burden and risk more heavily on the tenant, which is a common feature in markets with high rental demand, such as in China's major cities.

This term is ubiquitous in the process of renting an apartment. You will encounter it constantly when communicating with real estate agents and landlords.

• In Conversation: An agent (中介 - zhōngjiè) will almost always state the payment term upfront. They might show you a beautiful apartment and then say, “付款方式是押一付三” (Fùkuǎn fāngshì shì yā yī fù sān), meaning “The payment method is deposit one, pay three.”
• Variations: While “押一付三” is the most common, you may encounter variations depending on the city, the landlord, or market conditions:
  • 押一付一 (yā yī fù yī): Deposit one, pay one. This is much more favorable to the tenant but less common, often found in less competitive markets or with more flexible landlords.
  • 押一付六 (yā yī fù liù): Deposit one, pay six. A six-month upfront payment. Sometimes landlords offer a slight discount on the monthly rent for this.
  • 年付 (niánfù): Paying for the entire year upfront, which can sometimes result in a significant discount.
• Formality: The term is neutral and standard. It's used in both formal rental contracts (合同 - hétong) and casual verbal discussions.

• Example 1:
  • 中介：这个公寓的付款方式是押一付三。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngjiè: Zhège gōngyù de fùkuǎn fāngshì shì yā yī fù sān.
  • English: Agent: The payment method for this apartment is deposit-one-pay-three.
  • Analysis: This is a typical, direct statement you will hear from a real estate agent when discussing the terms of a lease.
• Example 2:
  • 房东：我们这里只接受押一付三，不能月付。
  • Pinyin: Fángdōng: Wǒmen zhèlǐ zhǐ jiēshòu yā yī fù sān, bùnéng yuèfù.
  • English: Landlord: We only accept deposit-one-pay-three here; you can't pay month-by-month.
  • Analysis: Here, the landlord is setting a firm, non-negotiable condition, contrasting “押一付三” with monthly payments (月付 - yuèfù).
• Example 3:
  • A: 房租多少钱？ B: 6000块一个月，押一付三。
  • Pinyin: A: Fángzū duōshǎo qián? B: Liùqiān kuài yīge yuè, yā yī fù sān.
  • English: A: How much is the rent? B: 6000 RMB per month, with a deposit-one-pay-three term.
  • Analysis: This shows how the term is used concisely in a Q&A format, immediately following the monthly rent price.
• Example 4:
  • 押一付三对刚毕业的学生来说压力太大了。
  • Pinyin: Yā yī fù sān duì gāng bìyè de xuéshēng láishuō yālì tài dà le.
  • English: The deposit-one-pay-three system puts too much pressure on recent graduates.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses a common opinion or complaint about this payment structure, highlighting the financial burden (压力 - yālì).
• Example 5:
  • 我得准备两万四千块，因为房租是六千，而且是押一付三。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ děi zhǔnbèi liǎng wàn sì qiān kuài, yīnwèi fángzū shì liùqiān, érqiě shì yā yī fù sān.
  • English: I need to prepare 24,000 RMB, because the rent is 6,000 and it's deposit-one-pay-three.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a user doing the mental math required. 6,000 (deposit) + 3 * 6,000 (rent) = 24,000.
• Example 6:
  • 你能跟房东商量一下，改成押一付一吗？押一付三我实在拿不出那么多钱。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng gēn fángdōng shāngliang yīxià, gǎi chéng yā yī fù yī ma? Yā yī fù sān wǒ shízài ná bù chū nàme duō qián.
  • English: Can you negotiate with the landlord to change it to deposit-one-pay-one? I really can't come up with that much money for deposit-one-pay-three.
  • Analysis: This shows a tenant attempting to negotiate for a more favorable payment term, directly contrasting it with “押一付一”.
• Example 7:
  • 合同上清楚地写着付款方式为押一付三。
  • Pinyin: Hétong shàng qīngchǔ de xiě zhe fùkuǎn fāngshì wèi yā yī fù sān.
  • English: The contract clearly states that the payment method is deposit-one-pay-three.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal, written context like a lease agreement (合同 - hétong).
• Example 8:
  • 虽然这个公寓很不错，但是押一付三的条件让我有点犹豫。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán zhège gōngyù hěn bùcuò, dànshì yā yī fù sān de tiáojiàn ràng wǒ yǒudiǎn yóuyù.
  • English: Although this apartment is great, the deposit-one-pay-three condition makes me a bit hesitant.
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses the feeling of hesitation (犹豫 - yóuyù) caused by the demanding financial terms.
• Example 9:
  • 在北京和上海，押一付三是租房的标配。
  • Pinyin: Zài Běijīng hé Shànghǎi, yā yī fù sān shì zūfáng de biāopèi.
  • English: In Beijing and Shanghai, deposit-one-pay-three is the standard for renting an apartment.
  • Analysis: This uses the modern slang term 标配 (biāopèi), meaning “standard configuration” or “default setting,” to emphasize how common this practice is.
• Example 10:
  • 你要记住，押一付三里的“押一”是押金，租期结束时可以退的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yào jìzhu, yā yī fù sān lǐ de “yā yī” shì yājīn, zūqī jiéshù shí kěyǐ tuì de.
  • English: You have to remember, the “deposit one” part of “deposit-one-pay-three” is the security deposit, which can be returned at the end of the lease.
  • Analysis: This is a crucial clarification, explaining the difference between the deposit (押金) and the rent payments.

• Mistake 1: The “Four Month” Miscalculation. The most common mistake for beginners is thinking “押一付三” means you pay for three months total. This is wrong. It means you pay for four months' worth of rent upfront: one month for the security deposit (押金 - yājīn) and three months for the actual rent (房租 - fángzū).
  • Incorrect: “The rent is 3000, so I need 9000 for the 押一付三.”
  • Correct: “The rent is 3000, so for 押一付三 I need 12,000 (3000 deposit + 9000 rent).”
• Mistake 2: Confusing the Deposit with Rent. The “押一” (yā yī) is the security deposit. It is not your first month's rent. It is a separate sum held by the landlord and is supposed to be returned to you at the end of the lease, assuming you haven't damaged the property. The “付三” (fù sān) covers your first three months of living in the apartment.
• Mistake 3: Forgetting Additional Fees. “押一付三” only covers the payment to the landlord. If you used a real estate agent (中介), you will likely have to pay a one-time agent fee (中介费 - zhōngjièfèi), which is often equal to one full month's rent. So, the total initial cash outlay could be as high as five months' rent.

• 押金 (yājīn) - The security deposit itself. “押一付三” is the payment plan, and “押金” is the actual money for the “押一” part.
• 房租 (fángzū) - Rent (for a house or apartment).
• 中介 (zhōngjiè) - Real estate agent or agency. They are the intermediaries you will almost always deal with.
• 房东 (fángdōng) - Landlord.
• 合同 (hétong) - Contract. Your rental agreement is a “租房合同” (zūfáng hétong).
• 押一付一 (yā yī fù yī) - A more tenant-friendly payment plan: deposit one month's rent, pay one month's rent.
• 押二付一 (yā èr fù yī) - A stricter plan: deposit two months' rent, pay one month's rent.
• 月付 (yuèfù) - To pay on a monthly basis. This is what tenants often wish for but rarely get, especially for the first payment.
• 季付 (jìfù) - To pay on a quarterly basis. “押一付三” is a form of quarterly payment for the rent portion, after the initial payment.
• 中介费 (zhōngjièfèi) - The agent's commission/fee, a critical part of the total upfront cost.