2
Living
居住 jūzhù
Living in the People’s Republic of China has changed significantly in the past twenty years. Previously, foreign students were required to live in approved and designated student dormitories on university campuses and businesspeople and the diplomatic corps were required to live in foreign compounds designated specifically for foreigners and where local Chinese were usually not allowed. This created isolated islands or enclaves of foreigners in the major cities in China. Under these conditions it was wholly possible to interact primarily with other foreigners for the majority of the time. Being isolated from Chinese communities prevented foreigners from living in and experiencing real Chinese neighborhoods. Thus it was difficult to get a feel for how the Chinese live on a day-to-day basis.
With the continuous opening up to the West, the housing situation has changed considerably. In the past, private ownership was prohibited and locals lived in housing compounds provided by their work unit. Now in China, private housing is allowed and the construction rate of new apartment buildings and complexes is staggering. Whereas in the past housing was very tightly controlled creating a housing shortage, now in many cities finding an apartment is not that difficult, though prices continue to rise.
The hotel situation in the past was also different. Foreigners were only allowed to stay in hotels that were approved by the state to house foreigners. Often only the most luxurious and expensive hotels were open to foreigners. There has long been the assumption that foreigners, especially Westerners, have an abundance of money to throw around. Traveling on a budget was challenging, though not impossible. Now, most hotels are open to foreigners. Those that may not be open to foreigners are typically very modest guesthouses or hostel-like accommodations that cater to migrant workers, construction crews, and other working-class groups. These are advertised with signs saying zhùsù 住宿 and are sometimes rented by the hour as well as nightly. Most Chinese businesspeople would not stay at these kinds of guesthouses. As a foreigner you will most likely be turned away from these kinds of places.
"Several years ago some friends of mine pulled into the tourist town of Lijiang in Yunnan province in the middle of the night after a grueling 10-hour drive from Sichuan. They stopped at the first lodging they saw, only to discover that the hotel could not house foreigners. For a couple of yuan, the taxi driver was persuaded to check into the hotel with his ID card. My friends had an uneasy night’s sleep in less-than-desirable conditions, but it only cost the equivalent of one U.S. dollar and saved them from having to search for an approved hotel."
In this chapter I discuss three kinds of accommodations: staying in a hotel, living in a student dormitory, and renting an apartment.
STAYING IN A HOTEL
住宾馆 zhù bīnguǎn
If you are in China for only a short time, staying in hotel-type lodging is probably your best choice. This option ranges from the most elegant five star hotels to university guesthouses and youth hostels.
There are a number of different terms used for hotels in Chinese. The larger, more expensive hotels usually use the term fàndiàn 饭店 or jiǔdiàn 酒店 sometimes with the character dà 大 added indicating a very large hotel. Generally, a jiǔdiàn 酒店 is bigger and more modern than a fàndiàn 饭店. Both are typically four- and five-star level hotels.
A bīnguǎn 宾馆 is a simple hotel or guesthouse that is typically less expensive and smaller than the bigger hotels described above, and is similar to a three-star hotel.
A zhāodàisuǒ 招待所 is a guesthouse or hostel that in the past was owned and operated by work units (dānwèi 单位) or universities. Today they are similar to a bīnguǎn 宾馆 though usually cheaper and not as nice and anyone can stay at them. Finally, there are lǚguǎn 旅馆 which are very simple, small, one- or two-star hotels that do not have restaurants. Youth hostels, qīngnián lǚshè 青年旅社, can be found in larger cities like Beijing. They are even more inexpensive and usually have shared rooms and bathing facilities. Some universities, such as Nanjing University, have foreign student dormitories, xuéshēng sùshè 学生 宿舍, that are also available to travelers. They are similar to youth hostels with shared bathrooms and private or shared rooms. They are usually quite inexpensive and are located on or adjacent to university campuses (see below for more information).
• BEHIND THE SCENES •
Characteristics of Hotels in China 中国旅店的特点 zhōngguó lǚdiàn de tèdiǎn
• When checking into a hotel you’ll need your passport. The staff will probably scan or make a copy of it. At the very least they will fill out some paperwork.
• Bigger hotels usually provide the following: toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap and either bodywash or shampoo.
• In many government hotels you have to ask to have the Internet turned on and often it is not wireless. You may need to pay a deposit as well.
• Just inside the door, there is usually a small card slot where you insert your key card to activate the power in the room. This is designed to save energy since when you leave the room and take your key, the power to the room is disconnected. There are ways to get around this; for example, if you want to keep the room cool in the summer, or you are drying clothes that you have hand washed, you can simply use a business card or other similarly sized card.
• Some hotels have wood floors. Disposable slippers are provided for you to wear in the room. (If you don’t, sometimes hotel staff may get irritated.)
• Some old-style government hotels still will not give you a room key. A hotel employee will open your door for you. In these kinds of hotels, there is usually a staff member on each floor of the hotel.
• At smaller, older hotels, it is a good idea to ask to see a room before checking in. Hotels often have various levels of rooms and for a little more money, you may be able to get a newly updated one.
• If it isn’t peak season, ask for a discount dǎzhé. Hotels will often give you one.
• Many hotels still have Ethernet cables in the rooms and wireless only in the lobby. Keep this in mind if you are an iPad or tablet user.
Staying in a hotel in China is not that different from staying at a hotel elsewhere in the world. Booking a room at a hotel in advance (yùdìng fángjiān 预定房间) can be done online at the largest hotels, or by calling on the phone and making a reservation with a credit card. At larger (i.e., expensive) hotels, typically foreign-owned chains, most personnel speak some English. But otherwise, calling and making a reservation at smaller hotels will require that you speak some Chinese. Or, you can use an online travel company like www.elong.com or www.ctrip.com. These are Chinese companies that work similarly to online travel companies in the West such as Orbitz or Travelocity. One can use a credit card to make reservations at a wide variety of hotels, from expensive to very modest, and these websites have both English and Chinese options. Travel guidebooks also have detailed information (including phone numbers, addresses, rates, etc.) regarding accommodations in a large number of Chinese cities. It is advised that during peak travel season, such as around Chinese New Year, you book your rooms several days, or even weeks, in advance. Those mentioned in popular guidebooks may fill up fast.
When staying at small Chinese-owned hotels do not expect the same level of service that you might at larger, more expensive hotels. Do not assume that everyone will speak and understand English. In fact, the traveler who speaks Chinese will probably have a much smoother experience and receive better service.
Be warned that the system of assigning stars to hotels can be quite different for Chinese hotels. I recently stayed at a three-star hotel in Yangzhou and it was not even as nice as a Super 8 motel in the U.S. But by Chinese standards it was okay.
Many universities have hotels, guesthouses, or dormitories (宾馆 bīnguǎn, 招待所 zhāodàisuǒ, 宿舍 sùshè) for foreign students that also will rent rooms to the general public. These accommodations range from typical hotel-like rooms to basic dorm rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Many of these guesthouses or dormitories are listed in travel guidebooks.
Universities offer lodging to the general public, too—not just students.
Many hotels may have a “service charge” which is similar to room taxes that are paid for hotels in the U.S. This charge can be as high as 15 to 20 percent. When booking a room be sure to ask if there is a service charge (服务费 fúwùfèi) or any other additional charges.
Remember to not drink the water in hotels or guesthouses. I also recommend using boiled or filtered water to brush your teeth. Thermoses, filled daily with boiled water, may be provided in lower level hotel rooms. Even more common now are electric kettles. With these you can boil your own water as needed. Larger hotels may provide a couple of bottles of spring water for your use.
STAYING IN A UNIVERSITY STUDENT DORMITORY
(宿舍 sùshè) or FOREIGN STUDENT HOUSING 住在大学生宿舍或外国留学生公寓
zhù zài dàxuéshēng sùshè huò wàiguó liúxuéshēng gōngyù
There are two kinds of foreign students studying in China: those that are on study abroad programs specifically to study Chinese language and culture, and those who are matriculated students earning a degree from a Chinese university. (For more details see Chapter 7 on studying in China.) Many universities have a department for foreign studies, that is, for foreigners studying Chinese. For example, Nanjing University has a department called hǎiwài jiàoyù xuéyuàn 海外教育学院, or the “College of Overseas Education.” Many of these kinds of colleges have housing designated for foreigners. In the past, foreigners were generally required to stay in these foreign student dormitories. As such they sometimes turned into foreigner ghettos with a host of restaurants and bars in the vicinity that catered specifically to Westerners. This does not exactly encourage a real immersion experience into the language and culture. These foreign student dormitories may be freestanding buildings or a wing or two of an existing building. Accommodations are usually adequate with two people per room and with communal bathrooms at the end of the hall.
"On my first trip to China, in 1985, we were housed in a Chinese student dormitory at a large university. We thought it was pretty nice, even spacious, with two single beds, two desks, and two wardrobes for clothes. It was about the size of a typical dorm room in the U.S. There were clean bathrooms down the hall. We later learned that usually this same room would house eight Chinese students."
The nice thing about foreign student dormitories is that you don’t have to deal with a landlord, negotiate rent, pay utility bills, and so on. They will usually require a security deposit and rent may either be paid in full, or monthly depending on the arrangements. If you are studying through a U.S.-based university, housing will probably be part of your fees, so you do not have to worry about monthly rent.
Most universities and work units (dānweì 单位) have older, more basic guesthouses zhāodàisuǒ 招待所, but many now also have pleasant newer guesthouses (bīnguǎn 宾馆) as well. These guesthouses are not only for foreign students but for anyone who would like to stay there. They are usually very reasonably priced compared to other hotels. In these university guesthouses, there are often dormitory-style accommodations, as well as private rooms with private bathrooms for a higher price. The more nicely appointed single rooms are usually rented by travelers or visiting faculty members.
It may be possible to stay in a regular student dormitory. Dorms that Chinese students live in are quite a bit more basic than what you see in the U.S. Dorm rooms typically house up to eight students and are very crowded. Furniture typically consists of bunk beds, some small wardrobes, and maybe a small desk. Private space is very limited. In fact, it is not uncommon for a student’s bed to be all the private space they have. I have seen dorm rooms where half of the bed was piled with books, clothes, and other personal items because there simply is no other place to store things. Bathrooms are communal and are usually at the end of the building. Sometimes bathrooms do not have bathing facilities, so taking a shower may require going to a different building altogether. Many dorms lack air conditioning and south of the Yangtze River, most buildings do not have central heat. Beds in student dormitories can be rather hard with very thin mattresses. Living in a Chinese student dormitory would certainly give you an authentic experience, but know what you are committing to.
RENTING AN APARTMENT
租公寓/租房子 zū gōngyù/ zū fángzi
Renting an apartment in China can be an intimidating experience. Unfamiliar vocabulary and contracts with legal terminology can be challenging for even the linguistically sophisticated. However, it is not an impossible task if you have sufficient information. Below, I outline the various steps in finding housing in a moderately sized Chinese city. This information may not apply to small towns or villages where housing may not be as readily available as it is in larger metropolitan areas.
Finding an apartment 找房子 zhǎo fángzi
There are three general strategies to finding an apartment. One is to get a recommendation or referral from a friend or colleague, the second is to find your own, and the third is to use a real estate company. If you are working for a company in China your employer may provide housing or have suggestions about where to live. Your colleagues may also have suggestions or know someone that is renting an apartment. In China having connections is very important and can allow one to get things done much more easily and less painfully than if one has no connections. Chinese colleagues or friends will have a network of friends and associates whom they may call on for favors. If you are lucky they may know someone (who may know someone) who has an apartment for rent. Oftentimes, landlords own multiple properties, and your friend’s or colleague’s landlord may have other apartments they can show you. If you are a student, you might ask other students in the area for recommendations.
As always, connections help: Chinese colleagues or friends may know someone (who may know someone) who has an apartment for rent.
If you are not in a hurry and have some time to look around, you may be able to find something on your own. The best strategy is to go to apartment buildings and ask if there are any apartments for rent. In larger, more refined buildings there will be a guǎnlĭyuán 管理员, or person who manages the door, similar to a security guard, and many will know if there are landlords renting apartments in their buildings. Some communities have bulletin boards where the daily paper is displayed. Sometimes apartments for rent are advertised there. The advantage to using this approach is that you do not have to pay a finder’s fee; but of course it will also require more work on your part.
If you do not have any connections in the city in which you’re planning to live, using a real estate company is a good way to go. Again, ask around for a recommendation for a good company to use. These kinds of companies are typically called fángchǎn 房产, dìchǎn 地产, or fángdìchǎn gōngsī 房地产公司. They may also be referred to as zhōngjiè 中介, meaning a go-between or broker.
The first thing that you will be asked at these companies is what kind of apartment you are looking for. Apartments in China are typically categorized in one of two ways: by square meters (píngmĭ 平米), or by the number of rooms. Try to familiarize yourself with how square meters convert into square footage. Also, keep in mind that Chinese apartments are typically smaller than apartments in the U.S. One square foot is equal to .09 square meters (and one square meter is equal to 10.76 square feet).
The other method used is number of rooms. This is usually expressed in terms of the number of bedrooms and living or sitting rooms. For example, a three-bedroom apartment with a living or sitting room, and one bathroom, would be expressed as sānshì yìtīng yíwèi 三室一厅一卫 which is the equivalent of “3 bedrooms, 1 room, 1 bath” sānjiān wòshì yìjiān kètīng yìjiān wèishēngjiān 三间臣卜室一间客厅一间卫生间. The term dānyuán 单元 is used to refer to a residential unit or apartment. For example, you might say wǒjiāzhù zài sān dānyuán 我家住在三单元, “My house is in Unit 3.”
| Square meters | Square foot equivalent |
| 60 | 646 |
| 65 | 700 |
| 70 | 753 |
| 75 | 807 |
| 80 | 861 |
| 85 | 915 |
| 90 | 969 |
| 95 | 1023 |
| 100 | 1076 |
| 105 | 1130 |
| 110 | 1184 |
| 120 | 1292 |
If you are in China for a short term (a semester to a year) you will probably want a furnished (dài jiājù 带家具) or at least partially furnished apartment. This is something you should bring up with the zhōngjiè 中介 before you go out looking. Furnished apartments are common and come equipped with appliances, furniture, and sometimes some kitchen pots and pans. You usually will need to buy your own sheets, blankets, and pillows, and most of your cooking supplies, like a wok, rice cooker, electric teapot, and so on.
Once you have agreed on what you are looking for, the zhōngjiè 中介 will then offer to show you some apartments. They usually charge a fee to do this, which will often be dropped (or deducted from other fees) if you actually rent the apartment. Real estate companies usually will also charge an additional finder’s fee for finding you an apartment. This fee will often be the equivalent of half a month’s rent for the apartment that you decide on. Some companies may also charge a flat finder’s fee. This finder’s fee is in addition to the zhōngjiè ’s fee. Make sure you know what the company policy is before you go out looking.
Another good strategy to get a feel for what apartment rents currently are in the area where you’re looking is to use an online real estate company like wǒài wǒjiā 我爱我家, www.5i5j.com. On this site you can search for rentals by city and district, as well as by size, price, and so on. Some people go to this site to see what typical apartment rents are, then go to a local real estate company and have a zhōngjiè 中介 show them some places. Doing this may help you more successfully negotiate a rental contract without getting ripped off. This site is only in Chinese and covers the following cities: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, and Taiyuan.
Once you have found an apartment that you like you will usually need to negotiate to determine a monthly rental price and what appliances and other things will be covered in the rent. With some apartments you will deal directly with the landlord, and with some you will deal with the real estate company that will also act as the property manager. Sometimes the zhōngjiè 中介 may help with the negotiations, but most often you will be on your own to negotiate with the landlord. Most landlords are only willing to rent their apartments for a full year. If you want to rent an apartment for a shorter period of time, like a four-month semester, it will take some dealing; be prepared to pay more to get a shorter contract.
It is important when looking at an apartment that you carefully inspect the furnishings and appliances to make sure everything is in working order. Flush the toilets, run the hot water, turn on the stove, check the lights, the air conditioner, televisions, telephone, etc. Most apartment buildings that rent apartments will have Western style sit toilets. However, sometimes the plumbing systems in certain areas are not designed to handle toilet paper in the toilets. In these situations there is usually a small waste basket next to the toilet for used toilet paper. This may sound a bit gross, but it is a fairly common thing in many parts of China. Ask about this when looking at an apartment.
Signing a contract 签合同 qiān hétong
Usually landlords will require that you pay three months’ rent up front when you sign a contract. Sometimes the term jìdù 季度 is used, meaning quarterly. This three months’ rent then serves as your security deposit, which you will get back when you move out. Sometimes, such as in Beijing, if the rent of the apartment is more than 3000 yuan, the landlord is expected to pay the finder’s fee.
When renting to foreigners, some landlords may want the entire amount of rent due at the time of occupancy. This may seem a bit daunting, but if you have a housing budget, paying it all up front means that much less to worry about later. A security deposit is also usually required at signing time as well. The amount of the deposit (yājīn 押金 may vary but is often the equivalent of one month’s rent. When you move out, if there are no problems or damage to the apartment, the deposit will be refunded to you.
The contract should outline the furniture (jiājù 家具 and appliances (qìjù 器具) that the apartment includes. It should also list which services are and are not included in the monthly rent. This may include things such as cable television fees (yǒuxiàn diànshì fèi 有限电视费), Internet access fees (shàngwǎng fèi 上网费), telephone fees (diànhuà fèi 电话费), and so on. Also make sure that you understand how to pay utility bills, which are usually not included in the rent. Make sure that you retain a copy of the contract.
Paying utility bills 付水电费 fù shuĭdiànfèi
Most apartments do not include utilities (typically water, electricity, and gas). Monthly or bimonthly you will receive the bills. Your landlord should have information on how to pay these bills. Most of the time bills are paid at local banks or maybe at the post office. It should say on the bill which banks will accept payment. You must have an account number (which you should get from your landlord) when paying your bill. Take the actual bill, which will have a measurement of the water, gas, or electricity used during the time period, but will not show a payment amount, to the bank along with the account number. You will then find out how much the bill is, and can pay on the spot with cash. Though credit and debit cards are becoming more common in China, most commerce is still based on cash, including paying utility bills.
Bathrooms and sanitation
生间和卫生 wèishēngjiān hé wèishēng
Sanitation is continually improving in China, especially in the larger cities. However, the countryside is still another matter. Though there are increasing numbers of Western style sit toilets (mǎtǒng 马桶/ zuòbiànqì 坐便器), especially in hotels and shopping malls, the squatter type toilet (dūnshì mǎtǒng 考 式马桶/ dūnkēng 轉坑) is still the most common throughout China. These types of toilets can be intimidating at first, but with practice and an open mind one can adapt without much trouble. Getting acclimated to squatters is not just a matter of training the leg muscles to squat without any support, but it also requires one to get used to the stench that is often ubiquitous at Chinese public restrooms. Part of the problem is how bathrooms are cleaned (usually just sprayed down with water), and Chinese squatter toilets and urinals seldom have a U-bend in the pipes to prevent fumes from coming back up into the bathroom, as is customary in the West. The smell in some public bathrooms can be overpowering, especially in smaller cities or in rural areas. The best advice is to breathe through your mouth and be as quick as possible. Another potential hazard in public restrooms is that the floors are frequently wet, sometimes with standing water. This makes it challenging to do your business without getting your pants wet. It can be done, you just have to be more careful. A small fee may be charged at public restrooms. Finally, always carry toilet paper or small packets of tissues with you whenever you leave your hotel or apartment since most public restrooms do not provide toilet paper. Because of the possible primitive conditions, it is wise when you are out to find a hotel or maybe a restaurant and use its bathroom, which will undoubtedly be cleaner than public restrooms.
The squatter type toilet can be intimidating at first, but with practice one can adapt.
Most apartments that rent to foreigners will have Western style toilets. However, in some older apartments the toilets were not designed to handle toilet paper and will easily clog if it is flushed down. With these kinds of toilets a special waste basket (zhĭlǒu 紙萋) is provided to dispose of used toilet paper (shǒuzhĭ 手紙). This can contribute to a smelly bathroom.
Unlike in the West where the trash goes out once a week, in China, you typically take the trash out every day or whenever your wastebaskets are full. Different apartment buildings will have different policies, but there is usually a designated place, sometimes just an area outside the building, where trash is deposited. There may be garbage cans, but often it is just a pile where you throw your trash bags. In densely populated areas, the trash collector will have a wheeled cart to pick up the trash. It will then be transported to a larger facility. Most apartments do not have recycling bins, but rest assured that your trash will be checked and sorted for recyclable items. In fact, you may notice three-wheeled bicycles or other carts full of cardboard, plastic, metal, and so on, on their way to a recycling center.
Problems in the apartment
公寓的问题 gōngyù de wèntí
In North America if something breaks or stops working, such as a washing machine, refrigerator, or air conditioning unit, and it is not due to your abuse, it is usually the landlord’s responsibility to fix (xiūlĭ 修理) it. In China, on the other hand, the landlord (fángdōng 房东) will expect you to get it fixed at your expense.
If something breaks and you can’t fix it yourself, you have a few options to try. You can contact the landlord or property manager and ask them to arrange to send someone over to fix it. You can ask your neighbors for a recommendation of a handyman. Or, using your network of friends and associates, you can find someone yourself to fix it. Some places in China, primarily large cities, may have something like the yellow pages where you can look up information and services. However, these sorts of reference books are usually only available at large hotels or post offices.
"Several years ago we were living in China in a typical working class apartment complex. We noticed that the main drain in the bathroom was getting progressively slower. Finally, after every shower there was standing water in the bathroom (the drain was located in the middle of the floor). I was hesitant to call a plumber (shuĭnuǎngōng 水暖工) because they are so expensive in the U.S. Also, there was no phone book or other obvious resource available. I finally called the zhōng jiè 中介 who’d helped us find the apartment. I explained the situation and he called a plumber for me. The plumber arrived promptly, cleared the drain, and charged us 35 yuan, which at that time was equivalent to about US$4.35. A real bargain."
China does have a directory assistance service for getting information and phone numbers. The China Telecom number is 118114, and the China Unicom number is 116114. Theoretically, you can call these numbers to get phone numbers of businesses and services. However, they are generally limited to large cities like Beijing and Shanghai. There is also a companion website, www.wo116114.com, but we found it had few listings outside of Beijing. A better site is 58.com. This site is very easy to use and has a great deal of useful information for cities all over China, including smaller cities. You simply select a city (they’re listed alphabetically by pinyin) then select a category for the services you need. One thing to keep in mind is that these listings may not be very comprehensive—there are countless small businesses all over every city in China that will not be part of these kinds of networks.
USEFUL PHRASES
book a room at a hotel in advance yùdìng fángjiān 预定房间
guesthouse (belongs to a university or a large company) zhāodàisuǒ 招待所
high-level hotel that also offers dining for guests only bīnguǎn 宾馆
low-level hotel (generally does not have food services) lǚshè/lǚguǎn 旅社/旅馆
restaurant, hotel fàndiàn 饭店
restaurant, hotel jiǔ diàn 酒店 Both 酒店 and 饭店 can refer to restaurants, but they also can mean hotels. Sometimes 酒店 is more modern than 饭店, and offers more amenities.
student dormitory xuéshēng sùshè 学生宿舍
youth hostel qīngnián lǚshè 青年旅社
look for or find an apartment zhǎo fángzi 找房子
furnished rental unit dài jiājù 带家具
sign a contract qiān hétong 签合同
real estate fángchǎn 龟铲; dìchǎn 地产
real estate agency; property company fángdìchǎn gōngsī 房地产公司
rent an apartment zūgōngyù; zūfángzi 租公寓; 租房子
3 bedrooms, 1 living room, and 1 bathroom sānshì yìtīng yíwèi 三复 一厅一卫
to pay utility bills fù shuĭdiànfèi 付水电費
cable TV fees yǒuxiàn diànshì fèi 有限电视費
Internet access fees shàngwǎng fèi 上网費
telephone fees diànhuà fèi 电话费
USEFUL WORDS
accommodation zhùsù 住宿
air conditioning kōngtiáo 空调
apartment gōngyù 公寓
bathroom wèishēngjiān 卫生间 / cèsuǒ 厕所
bedroom wòshì 卧室
bill zhàngdān 账单
book (a room at hotel) yùdìng 予页定
contract hétong 合同
deposit yājīn 押金
discount dǎzhé 打折
dormitory sùshè 宿舍
electricity diàn 电
electric light/lamp diàndēng 电灯
fee; expense fèi 费
fix, repair xiūlĭ 修理
furniture jiājù 家具
gas ránqì 燃气
heating system; central heating nuǎnqì 暖气
landlord fángdōng 房东
living room tīng 厅; kètīng 客厅
manager guǎnlĭyuán 客厅
neighbor línjū 邻居
pay fù 付
plumber shuĭnuǎngōng 水暖工
RMB dollar yuán 元
refrigerator (diàn)bīngxiāng (电)冰箱 rent (v) zū 租
rent (n) fángzū 房租
restroom; bathroom xĭshǒujiān 洗手间
room fángzi 房子; fángjiān 房间
service charge fúwùfèi 月良务费
sign (your name) qiān 签
sit toilet mǎtǒng 马桶 / zuòbiànqì 坐便器
special waste baskets for used toilet paper 紙篓 zhĭlǒu
square meter 平米 píngmĭ
squatter type toilet dūnkēng 尊坑; dūnshì mǎtǒng 專式马桶 (Taiwan & Southern China)
stove lúzi 炉子
telephone diànhuà 电舌
television diànshì 电视
toilet paper shǒuzhĭ 手纸
real estate broker fángchǎn zhōngjiè 房产中介
utility fee shuĭdiànfèi 电费
washing machine xĭyījī 洗衣机
water shuĭ 水