4 · 40 words

Housing, property and building

How a home is bought, paid for, built, maintained and pulled down.

These are the words of property adverts, mortgage talks and building sites. Many are built from a few characters worth knowing on their own: 房(fáng), a house or flat, gives 房价(fángjià) and 二手房(èrshǒufáng); 建(jiàn), to build, gives 建设(jiànshè) and 建筑师(jiànzhùshī). Three verbs all translate as “build”: 盖(gài) is the everyday word for a house, 修建(xiūjiàn) is for roads, bridges and buildings, and 建设(jiànshè) is for a city or a whole country.

The words

Verb (9)

买房(mǎifáng)to buy a homeVerb4

很(hěn)多(duō)年轻人(niánqīngrén)为了(wèile)买房(mǎifáng)拼命(pīnmìng)存钱(cúnqián)。Many young people save as hard as they can to buy a home.

建设(jiànshè)to build; to construct (on a large scale)Verb4

这(zhè)座(zuò)城市(chéngshì)正在(zhèngzài)建设(jiànshè)新(xīn)的(de)地铁(dìtiě)线(xiàn)。The city is building a new underground line.

For large projects, a city or a whole country; a single house is 盖(gài).

设计(shèjì)to design; designVerb3

她(tā)自己(zìjǐ)设计(shèjì)了(le)新(xīn)家(jiā)的(de)厨房(chúfáng)。She designed the kitchen of her new home herself.

修建(xiūjiàn)to build (roads, bridges, buildings)Verb4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)公路(gōnglù)是(shì)去年(qùnián)修建(xiūjiàn)的(de)。This road was built last year.

盖(gài)to build (a house)Verb4

爷爷(yéye)年轻(niánqīng)的(de)时候(shíhou)自己(zìjǐ)盖(gài)了(le)这(zhè)座(zuò)房子(fángzi)。Grandpa built this house himself when he was young.

Colloquial; also “to cover”, as with a lid.

施工(shīgōng)to carry out construction workVerb4

前面(qiánmiàn)正在(zhèngzài)施工(shīgōng)，请(qǐng)绕行(ràoxíng)。Construction work ahead — please take a detour.

The word of signs and notices.

拆除(chāichú)to demolish; to removeVerb4

这些(zhèxiē)旧(jiù)楼(lóu)下(xià)个(ge)月(yuè)就(jiù)要(yào)拆除(chāichú)了(le)。These old buildings are going to be demolished next month.

Formal; in speech simply 拆(chāi).

倒塌(dǎotā)to collapseVerb4

那(nà)座(zuò)老(lǎo)桥(qiáo)在(zài)一(yì)场(cháng)大(dà)雨(yǔ)后(hòu)倒塌(dǎotā)了(le)。The old bridge collapsed after a heavy downpour.

维修(wéixiū)to repair; to maintainVerb4

电梯(diàntī)正在(zhèngzài)维修(wéixiū)，请(qǐng)走(zǒu)楼梯(lóutī)。The lift is under maintenance; please use the stairs.

More formal than 修理(xiūlǐ); for buildings, machines and notices.

Noun (30)

房地产(fángdìchǎn)real estate; propertyNoun4

他(tā)在(zài)一(yì)家(jiā)房地产(fángdìchǎn)公司(gōngsī)工作(gōngzuò)。He works for a property company.

房价(fángjià)house prices; property pricesNoun4

这(zhè)几(jǐ)年(nián)大(dà)城市(chéngshì)的(de)房价(fángjià)涨(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)快(kuài)。House prices in the big cities have risen fast in the last few years.

房屋(fángwū)house; housing (formal)Noun4

这些(zhèxiē)老(lǎo)房屋(fángwū)明年(míngnián)要(yào)重新(chóngxīn)修(xiū)。These old houses are to be renovated next year.

Formal and written; in speech 房子(fángzi).

住宅(zhùzhái)residence; housingNoun4

这里(zhèlǐ)以前(yǐqián)是(shì)工厂(gōngchǎng)，现在(xiànzài)是(shì)住宅区(zhùzháiqū)。This used to be a factory; now it is a residential area.

别墅(biéshù)villa; detached houseNoun4

他们(tāmen)在(zài)郊区(jiāoqū)买(mǎi)了(le)一(yí)栋(dòng)别墅(biéshù)。They bought a detached house in the suburbs.

Measure word: 栋(dòng).

二手房(èrshǒufáng)second-hand home; resale flatNoun4

新房(xīnfáng)太(tài)贵(guì)，我们(wǒmen)打算(dǎsuàn)买(mǎi)二手房(èrshǒufáng)。New flats are too expensive, so we plan to buy a second-hand one.

首付(shǒufù)down payment; deposit (on a home)Noun4

买(mǎi)这(zhè)套(tào)房子(fángzi)，首付(shǒufù)要(yào)三十(sānshí)万(wàn)。The down payment on this flat is three hundred thousand yuan.

Short for 首付款(shǒufùkuǎn).

贷款(dàikuǎn)loan; mortgageNoun4

他们(tāmen)还(hái)要(yào)还(huán)二十(èrshí)年(nián)的(de)贷款(dàikuǎn)。They still have twenty years of their mortgage to pay off.

Also a verb, to take out a loan; note 还(hái) “still” and 还(huán) “to pay back” in the example.

中介(zhōngjiè)agent; agency (for property)Noun4

我们(wǒmen)是(shì)通过(tōngguò)中介(zhōngjiè)找到(zhǎodào)这(zhè)套(tào)房子(fángzi)的(de)。We found this flat through an estate agent.

租金(zūjīn)rent (the sum)Noun4

这(zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)的(de)店铺(diànpù)租金(zūjīn)很(hěn)高(gāo)。The rent for shops on this street is high.

The everyday word for the rent on a home is 房租(fángzū).

押金(yājīn)deposit (returned later)Noun4

搬走(bānzǒu)的(de)时候(shíhou)，房东(fángdōng)把(bǎ)押金(yājīn)退(tuì)给(gěi)了(le)我(wǒ)。When I moved out, the landlord gave me back my deposit.

业主(yèzhǔ)owner (of a flat or a business)Noun4

小区(xiǎoqū)的(de)业主们(yèzhǔmen)今晚(jīnwǎn)开会(kāihuì)。The owners on the estate are holding a meeting tonight.

物业(wùyè)property management (company)Noun4

我们(wǒmen)楼(lóu)的(de)电梯(diàntī)坏(huài)了(le)，得(děi)给(gěi)物业(wùyè)打(dǎ)电话(diànhuà)。The lift in our building has broken down; we need to ring the management company.

The company that runs a housing estate and collects a monthly fee for it.

开发商(kāifāshāng)property developerNoun4

这个(zhège)小区(xiǎoqū)是(shì)一(yì)家(jiā)大(dà)开发商(kāifāshāng)建(jiàn)的(de)。This estate was built by a big developer.

楼盘(lóupán)housing development (for sale)Noun4

这个(zhège)新(xīn)楼盘(lóupán)离(lí)地铁站(dìtiězhàn)很(hěn)近(jìn)。This new development is very close to the underground station.

户型(hùxíng)layout (of a flat); floor planNoun4

这(zhè)套(tào)房子(fángzi)的(de)户型(hùxíng)很(hěn)好(hǎo)，每(měi)个(ge)房间(fángjiān)都(dōu)有(yǒu)窗户(chuānghu)。This flat has a good layout: every room has a window.

面积(miànjī)area; floor spaceNoun4

这(zhè)套(tào)公寓(gōngyù)的(de)面积(miànjī)是(shì)八十(bāshí)平方米(píngfāngmǐ)。This flat has a floor area of eighty square metres.

采光(cǎiguāng)natural light (in a room)Noun4

这(zhè)间(jiān)卧室(wòshì)朝(cháo)南(nán)，采光(cǎiguāng)特别(tèbié)好(hǎo)。This bedroom faces south and gets a lot of light.

车位(chēwèi)parking spaceNoun4

小区(xiǎoqū)里(lǐ)的(de)车位(chēwèi)不(bú)够(gòu)用(yòng)。There are not enough parking spaces on the estate.

地下室(dìxiàshì)basement; cellarNoun4

我们(wǒmen)把(bǎ)旧(jiù)家具(jiājù)放(fàng)在(zài)地下室(dìxiàshì)了(le)。We put the old furniture in the basement.

屋顶(wūdǐng)roofNoun4

下(xià)大(dà)雨(yǔ)的(de)时候(shíhou)，屋顶(wūdǐng)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)漏水(lòushuǐ)。When it rains hard, the roof leaks a little.

工程(gōngchéng)project; works; engineeringNoun4

这个(zhège)工程(gōngchéng)要(yào)到(dào)明年(míngnián)才(cái)能(néng)完成(wánchéng)。The project will not be finished until next year.

结构(jiégòu)structureNoun4

这(zhè)座(zuò)楼(lóu)的(de)结构(jiégòu)很(hěn)结实(jiēshi)，不(bú)怕(pà)地震(dìzhèn)。The structure of this building is solid enough to withstand an earthquake.

工地(gōngdì)building site; construction siteNoun4

他(tā)每天(měitiān)早上(zǎoshang)六(liù)点(diǎn)就(jiù)到(dào)工地(gōngdì)干活(gànhuó)。He gets to the building site at six every morning to start work.

建筑师(jiànzhùshī)architectNoun4

她(tā)从小(cóngxiǎo)就(jiù)想(xiǎng)当(dāng)建筑师(jiànzhùshī)。She has wanted to be an architect since she was a child.

图纸(túzhǐ)blueprint; technical drawingNoun4

这(zhè)张(zhāng)图纸(túzhǐ)画(huà)得(de)很(hěn)清楚(qīngchu)。This drawing is very clearly done.

Measure word: 张(zhāng).

房产(fángchǎn)property (owned); real estate holdingsNoun4

他(tā)在(zài)北京(Běijīng)有(yǒu)两(liǎng)处(chù)房产(fángchǎn)。He owns two properties in Beijing.

水泥(shuǐní)cementNoun4

水泥(shuǐní)还(hái)没(méi)干(gān)，别(bié)在(zài)上面(shàngmiàn)走(zǒu)。The cement is not dry yet, so do not walk on it.

砖(zhuān)brickNoun4

这(zhè)座(zuò)老(lǎo)房子(fángzi)是(shì)用(yòng)红(hóng)砖(zhuān)盖(gài)的(de)。This old house is built of red brick.

Measure word: 块(kuài).

地基(dìjī)foundationsNoun4

地基(dìjī)打(dǎ)得(de)好(hǎo)，房子(fángzi)才(cái)能(néng)住(zhù)得(de)久(jiǔ)。A house only lasts if its foundations are well laid.

Adjective (1)

坚固(jiāngù)sturdy; solidAdjective4

这(zhè)座(zuò)桥(qiáo)建(jiàn)得(de)非常(fēicháng)坚固(jiāngù)。This bridge is very solidly built.

This list belongs to Home and daily life — five lists and 200 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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