zūjīn: 租金 - Rent, Rental Fee

• Keywords: zujin, 租金, rent in China, how to say rent in Chinese, pay rent in Chinese, rental fee, apartment rent China, 租房子 (zu fangzi), 房租 (fangzu), lease payment, Chinese landlord
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 租金 (zūjīn), which means “rent” or “rental fee.” This page breaks down how to use 租金 when talking about leasing an apartment, car, or office in China. Discover its cultural context, including common payment practices, and compare it to the more colloquial term 房租 (fángzū). This is a must-know term for anyone living, working, or studying in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zūjīn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: The money paid for the temporary use of something, such as property or equipment; rent.
• In a Nutshell: 租金 (zūjīn) is the standard, and somewhat formal, word for “rent.” It's a compound of 租 (zū), “to rent,” and 金 (jīn), “money.” Think of it as “rent-money.” You'll find this term on official rental agreements (合同, hétong) and use it in clear, direct conversations about payment. While another word, 房租 (fángzū), is more common for casual talk about apartment rent, 租金 is the correct and universally understood term for any type of rental fee.

• 租 (zū): This character means “to rent” or “to lease.” It's composed of the radical 禾 (hé), meaning “grain,” on the left and 且 (qiě) on the right. This points to the ancient practice of paying for the use of land with a portion of the harvest (grain). It signifies a temporary exchange for use.
• 金 (jīn): This character means “gold,” “metal,” and by extension, “money.” It's a pictograph that originally depicted nuggets of metal found underground.
• The two characters combine logically to mean “rent money” or the fee you pay for leasing something.

In modern China's bustling cities, the concept of 租金 is a central part of life for millions. Due to skyrocketing property prices, especially in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, owning a home is a distant dream for many young professionals, students, and migrant workers. Consequently, renting (租房, zūfáng) is the norm, making discussions about 租金 a frequent reality. A significant cultural difference from the West is the common payment structure known as 押一付三 (yā yī fù sān). This means the tenant must pay one month's rent as a security deposit (押金, yājīn) plus three months' rent upfront. This initial financial burden can be substantial and is a key consideration for anyone moving to a new city in China. The formal rental contract (合同, hétong) will always clearly state the 租金 amount, payment schedule, and terms, making it a legally critical term. Unlike the more fluid and sometimes informal rental arrangements in some Western countries, the process in China tends to be very transactional and contract-focused, with 租金 at its core.

租金 (zūjīn) is a versatile and neutral term used in various contexts, from personal to business.

• Formal/Official Contexts: This is the go-to term for legal documents, rental contracts, and formal negotiations with landlords (房东, fángdōng) or real estate agents (中介, zhōngjiè).
• General-Purpose Rent: While 房租 (fángzū) is specific to housing, 租金 can refer to the rent for anything:
  • 办公室的租金 (bàngōngshì de zūjīn) - Office rent
  • 汽车的租金 (qìchē de zūjīn) - Car rental fee
  • 设备的租金 (shèbèi de zūjīn) - Equipment rental fee
• Colloquial vs. Formal: In daily conversation about your apartment, you are more likely to hear and use 房租 (fángzū). For example, a friend might ask, “你每个月房租多少钱？” (How much is your rent each month?). However, using 租金 in the same context is perfectly correct, just slightly more formal-sounding.

• Example 1:
  • 我们这个月的租金还没有付。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhège yuè de zūjīn hái méiyǒu fù.
  • English: We still haven't paid this month's rent.
  • Analysis: A common, straightforward sentence. 付 (fù) is the verb “to pay,” used with 租金.
• Example 2:
  • 这个公寓的租金太贵了，我付不起。
  • Pinyin: Zhège gōngyù de zūjīn tài guì le, wǒ fù bù qǐ.
  • English: This apartment's rent is too expensive, I can't afford it.
  • Analysis: 付不起 (fù bù qǐ) is a very useful phrase meaning “can't afford to pay.”
• Example 3:
  • 合同上清楚地写着租金是每月三千元。
  • Pinyin: Hétong shàng qīngchǔ de xiě zhe zūjīn shì měi yuè sānqiān yuán.
  • English: The contract clearly states that the rent is 3,000 yuan per month.
  • Analysis: This shows the formal usage of 租金 in a legal or official context like a contract (合同).
• Example 4:
  • 请问，租金里包括水电费和网费吗？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zūjīn lǐ bāokuò shuǐdiànfèi hé wǎngfèi ma?
  • English: Excuse me, does the rent include utilities and internet fees?
  • Analysis: A practical and essential question for any prospective tenant. 包括 (bāokuò) means “to include.”
• Example 5:
  • 房东决定明年把租金提高百分之十。
  • Pinyin: Fángdōng juédìng míngnián bǎ zūjīn tígāo bǎifēnzhī shí.
  • English: The landlord decided to increase the rent by 10% next year.
  • Analysis: 提高 (tígāo) means “to raise” or “to increase.” This sentence shows how to talk about a rent hike.
• Example 6:
  • 我们可以跟房东谈一谈，看看能不能降低租金。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ gēn fángdōng tán yī tán, kànkan néng bù néng jiàngdī zūjīn.
  • English: We can talk to the landlord and see if we can lower the rent.
  • Analysis: 降低 (jiàngdī) is the opposite of 提高, meaning “to lower” or “to reduce.”
• Example 7:
  • 这辆车的租金是每天三百块。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liàng chē de zūjīn shì měi tiān sānbǎi kuài.
  • English: The rental fee for this car is 300 kuai per day.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 租金 is used for things other than housing, like a car rental.
• Example 8:
  • 你需要先付一个月的租金作为押金。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiān fù yīge yuè de zūjīn zuòwéi yājīn.
  • English: You need to first pay one month's rent as a security deposit.
  • Analysis: This explains the relationship between rent (租金) and the security deposit (押金, yājīn).
• Example 9:
  • 由于市场变化，市中心的办公室租金下降了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú shìchǎng biànhuà, shìzhōngxīn de bàngōngshì zūjīn xiàjiàng le.
  • English: Due to market changes, the rent for offices in the city center has decreased.
  • Analysis: A more formal sentence you might see in a news report about the real estate market.
• Example 10:
  • 如果你晚交租金，你将需要支付滞纳金。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ wǎn jiāo zūjīn, nǐ jiāng xūyào zhīfù zhìnàjīn.
  • English: If you pay the rent late, you will need to pay a late fee.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces another related term, 滞纳金 (zhìnàjīn), or “late fee,” which is often specified in rental contracts.

• 租金 (zūjīn) vs. 房租 (fángzū): This is the most important nuance.
  • 租金 (zūjīn): General-purpose “rent” (for houses, cars, equipment, etc.). More formal. Always correct.
  • 房租 (fángzū): “House/apartment rent” (房 means house). More colloquial and common in everyday speech about one's living situation.
  • While you can always use 租金 when talking about your apartment, using 房租 sounds more natural in a casual chat with a friend.
• Common Mistake: Confusing the Noun and the Verb
  • A frequent error for beginners is to use the noun 租金 (rent money) instead of the verb 租 (zū) (to rent).
  • Incorrect: 我想租金一个房子。 (Wǒ xiǎng zūjīn yí ge fángzi.) - Literally “I want to rent-money a house.”
  • Correct: 我想租一个房子。 (Wǒ xiǎng zū yí ge fángzi.) - “I want to rent a house.”
  • Remember: 租 (zū) is the action, 租金 (zūjīn) is the money you pay for that action.

• 房租 (fángzū) - The colloquial and more common term for “rent” specifically for a house or apartment.
• 租 (zū) - The verb “to rent.”
• 出租 (chūzū) - To rent out; used from the perspective of the person or company letting the property. (e.g., 出租车 chūzūchē - taxi, a “rented-out car”).
• 押金 (yājīn) - Security deposit, the “deposit money.”
• 房东 (fángdōng) - Landlord, the “house owner.”
• 房客 (fángkè) - Tenant, the “house guest.”
• 合同 (hétong) - Contract; the rental agreement where the 租金 is formally listed.
• 中介 (zhōngjiè) - Agent or intermediary; often a real estate agent who helps you find a place and negotiate the 租金.
• 付 (fù) - The most common verb meaning “to pay” (e.g., 付租金 - fù zūjīn).
• 押一付三 (yā yī fù sān) - A common payment term: “one month deposit, three months rent.”