zū: 租 - To Rent, To Lease, To Hire

• Keywords: zu, zū, 租, rent in Chinese, how to say rent in Chinese, renting an apartment in China, hire a car Chinese, Chinese word for lease, 房租 (fángzū), 出租 (chūzū), landlord, tenant in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 租 (zū), meaning “to rent,” “to lease,” or “to hire.” This page provides a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to understand how to talk about renting in China, a crucial skill for daily life. From finding an apartment (租房子) and discussing rent (房租) to hiring a car (租车), we cover the core meaning, cultural context, and practical examples to help you navigate the rental market in China with confidence.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zū
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To pay money to use something (like a house, car, or equipment) for a period of time.
• In a Nutshell: 租 (zū) is the fundamental action of renting something from someone else. If you are the person paying money to use an item, you are the one doing the 租 action. It's a transactional word that always implies a payment is involved, distinguishing it from borrowing for free.

• 禾 (hé): This radical means “grain” or “cereal.” In ancient China, grain was a primary form of currency and was often used to pay taxes or fees. Its presence here points to the payment aspect of renting.
• 且 (qiě): Originally a pictogram of an ancestral tablet, it primarily serves as the phonetic component in this character, giving 租 its “zu” sound.

The characters combine to form the idea of paying a fee (originally with 禾 grain) to use something, which directly evolves into the modern meaning of “to rent.”

In modern China, 租 (zū) is a word that defines a major life stage for millions, particularly for the young generation. The dream of homeownership is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, often seen as a prerequisite for marriage and stability. Consequently, renting is widely viewed as a temporary, transitional phase—a necessary step while one saves up to buy a property. This contrasts with many Western cultures where long-term renting is common and socially accepted. In China, living in a rented apartment (租的房子) can sometimes carry a slight connotation of instability compared to owning one's own home (自己的房子). A key practical aspect of renting in China is the payment structure. It's very common for landlords to require a payment of “押一付三” (yā yī fù sān), which means “one month's rent as a security deposit, and three months' rent paid in advance.” For a beginner, understanding this practice and the associated vocabulary is crucial for a smooth rental experience. The role of the real estate agent (中介 zhōngjiè) is also far more central and almost unavoidable in major cities.

租 (zū) is a high-frequency word used in various everyday situations.

• Renting Housing: The most common use is for renting an apartment or house (租房子 zū fángzi). You will use it when talking to agents, landlords, or friends about your living situation.
• Hiring Vehicles: It's also used for short-term rentals, such as hiring a car (租车 zū chē) for a trip or renting a bike.
• As part of other words: It forms many essential compound words related to renting:
  • 出租 (chūzū): “To rent out.” This is what the landlord or rental company does. You see it on signs for apartments for rent and on taxis (出租车 chūzūchē).
  • 房租 (fángzū): “Rent” (the noun), as in the money you pay for rent.
  • 合租 (hézū): “To co-rent” or share a flat with roommates. This is extremely common among students and young professionals.

The connotation of 租 itself is neutral; it's a simple transactional verb.

• Example 1:
  • 我下个月想在市中心租一个公寓。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xià ge yuè xiǎng zài shìzhōngxīn zū yí ge gōngyù.
  • English: I want to rent an apartment in the city center next month.
  • Analysis: A classic, straightforward use of 租 to express the intention of renting a place. This is a sentence you would use when starting your apartment search.
• Example 2:
  • 我们去旅游的时候可以租一辆车。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen qù lǚyóu de shíhou kěyǐ zū yì liàng chē.
  • English: We can hire a car when we go traveling.
  • Analysis: This shows 租 being used for something other than housing. Here, it means “to hire” or “to rent” a vehicle.
• Example 3:
  • 这套公寓是你买的还是租的？
  • Pinyin: Zhè tào gōngyù shì nǐ mǎi de háishì zū de?
  • English: Is this apartment one you bought or one you rent?
  • Analysis: A very common question in China that reflects the cultural importance of homeownership. The `是…的` structure is used here to emphasize the nature of the acquisition (buying vs. renting).
• Example 4:
  • 他把他的空房间租给了一个学生。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ tā de kōng fángjiān zū gěi le yí ge xuéshēng.
  • English: He rented his empty room out to a student.
  • Analysis: The structure `租给 (zū gěi)` means “to rent out to someone.” It clarifies who the recipient of the rental is.
• Example 5:
  • 我的朋友们在上海合租一个大房子。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de péngyoumen zài Shànghǎi hézū yí ge dà fángzi.
  • English: My friends are sharing a big rented house in Shanghai.
  • Analysis: This introduces the compound word 合租 (hézū), which literally means “to combine and rent.” It's the standard term for having roommates.
• Example 6:
  • 你每个月的房租是多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè de fángzū shì duōshao qián?
  • English: How much is your monthly rent?
  • Analysis: This example uses the noun 房租 (fángzū), “house rent.” This is a key vocabulary word you must