Level C · Intermediate

Negotiating the rent

Chen Hao wants to rent Auntie Wang's flat. The price does not suit him; he has seen the one below and uses it.

• C Chen Hao 陈浩
• A Auntie Wang 王阿姨

1. C Chen Hao

   王阿姨，这套房子我很喜欢，就是房租高了一点儿。

   Wáng āyí, zhè tào fángzi wǒ hěn xǐhuan, jiùshì fángzū gāo le yīdiǎnr.

   Auntie Wang, I like this flat very much, it is just that the rent is a bit high.

2. A Auntie Wang

   小陈，这个价格在我们小区真的不算高。

   Xiǎo Chén, zhè gè jiàgé zài wǒmen xiǎoqū zhēn de bù suàn gāo.

   Young Chen, that price really is not high for our compound.

3. C Chen Hao

   楼下那一套我看过，每个月便宜三百。

   Lóuxià nà yī tào wǒ kàn guò, měi gè yuè piányi sānbǎi.

   I have seen the one downstairs, it is three hundred a month cheaper.

4. A Auntie Wang

   那套没有阳台，楼层也低，怎么比？

   Nà tào méiyǒu yángtái, lóucéng yě dī, zěnme bǐ ?

   That one has no balcony and is on a low floor, how can you compare them?

5. C Chen Hao

   您说得对。可是您这套不但没有家具，而且洗衣机是坏的。

   Nín shuō de duì. Kěshì nín zhè tào bùdàn méiyǒu jiājù, érqiě xǐyījī shì huài de.

   You are right. But yours not only has no furniture, the washing machine is broken as well.

6. A Auntie Wang

   洗衣机？上个租客走的时候还能用。

   Xǐyījī ? Shàng gè zū kè zǒu de shíhou hái néng yòng.

   The washing machine? It was still working when the last tenant left.

7. C Chen Hao

   我刚才试过了，水放不进去。

   Wǒ gāngcái shì guò le, shuǐ fàng bù jìnqù.

   I tried it just now, the water will not go in.

8. A Auntie Wang

   那你想怎么办？

   Nà nǐ xiǎng zěnme bàn ?

   So what are you proposing?

9. C Chen Hao

   您把洗衣机换一台新的，房租我不还价。

   Nín bǎ xǐyījī huàn yī tái xīn de, fángzū wǒ bù huán jià.

   You replace the washing machine with a new one, and I will not haggle over the rent.

10. A Auntie Wang

    一台新的要一千五，比你省下来的还多。

    Yī tái xīn de yào yīqiān wǔ, bǐ nǐ shěng xiàlai de hái duō.

    A new one costs fifteen hundred, more than you would save.

11. C Chen Hao

    可是我一签就签两年。两年里您不用再找人。

    Kěshì wǒ yī qiān jiù qiān liǎng nián. Liǎng nián lǐ nín bùyòng zài zhǎo rén.

    Yes, but I am signing for two years at once. For two years you have nobody to look for.

12. A Auntie Wang

    两年？那好吧，洗衣机下个星期送过来。

    Liǎng nián ? Nà hǎo ba, xǐyījī xià gè xīngqī sòng guòlai.

    Two years? All right then, the washing machine will be delivered next week.

13. C Chen Hao

    谢谢您。合同我明天上午来签。

    Xièxie nín. Hétong wǒ míngtiān shàngwǔ lái qiān.

    Thank you. I will come and sign the contract tomorrow morning.