租房是留学或外派落地后的第一场硬仗,而且它和点餐不一样——说错了是要花钱的。
这个场景的英语有个特点:行话密度极高。deposit、bills、furnished、viewing、tenancy、notice——每一个都是固定说法,你用自己想的词去描述,对方大概率听得懂但会觉得你是新手,而对新手,谈判空间通常更小。
下面 16 句按租房的流程排,每条给出母语者的说法和一句话原因。最后附一份看房时的必问清单。
一、约看房
- ✗ I want to see the house. → ✓ I'd like to arrange a viewing. —— 看房这件事的专有名词是 viewing,说出来对方立刻知道你在讲什么。
- ✗ Is the house still have? → ✓ Is it still available? —— 问房子在不在,固定说法是 still available。
- ✗ I want a house. → ✓ I'm looking for a one-bedroom / a studio / a room in a share house. —— house 特指独栋。你要的多半是 apartment(美)/ flat(英)、studio(开间)、或者 a room in a shared flat(合租的一间)。
- ✗ Is there a separate toilet? → ✓ Is it en-suite? —— 房间自带卫浴叫 en-suite,这是英式租房广告里的高频词。
- ✗ The house is with furniture? → ✓ Is it furnished or unfurnished? —— 带不带家具是一组固定的反义词。
二、钱:这几句问清楚能省很多
- ✗ How much is the house money per month? → ✓ How much is the rent per month? —— 房租就是 rent。
- ✗ Does it include water and electricity? → ✓ Are bills included? —— bills 一个词涵盖水、电、燃气、网、(英国还有)市政税。这是租房英语里最值钱的一个词,一定要会问。
- ✗ How much is the guarantee money? → ✓ How much is the deposit? —— 押金是 deposit(英国常叫 tenancy deposit,且法律要求存进第三方保护计划)。
- ✗ When can I take back the deposit? → ✓ What are the conditions for getting the deposit back? —— 别只问什么时候退,要问在什么条件下能全额退——这才是真正会出问题的地方。
- ✗ Can it be more cheap? → ✓ Is there any flexibility on the rent? —— 直接砍价在西方租房市场里不常见;问"有没有商量余地"是得体的版本。
三、合同与入住
- ✗ I want to sign for one year. → ✓ Is it a 12-month tenancy? Is there a break clause? —— break clause 是"提前解约条款",没有这一条,你中途走人要付满全期。这是最该问的一句。
- ✗ Who is responsible if something broken? → ✓ Who handles repairs — you or the agency? —— 明确报修找谁:房东还是中介(letting agent)。
- ✗ I need a paper of I live here. → ✓ Could I get something in writing — a proof of address? —— 办银行卡、注册 GP 都要这张;它的名字就叫 proof of address。
- ✗ Please take photos before I move in. → ✓ Can we do an inventory check when I move in? —— 入住时的房屋状况清单叫 inventory。自己也把每一处已有的损坏拍照留存——退租时押金纠纷全靠这个。
四、住进去之后:报修与退租
- ✗ The heating is bad, come to fix now. → ✓ The heating isn't working — could someone come take a look? —— 报修不是下命令;isn't working 是标准说法。
- ✗ I want to leave the house next month. → ✓ I'd like to give notice — my last day would be the 30th. —— 退租通知的动作叫 give notice,合同里一般规定提前一个月(one month's notice)。
五、看房时的必问清单
把这几个问题存在手机里,看房时照着问,比背一百个句子有用:
- Are bills included?(水电网包不包)
- How much is the deposit, and how do I get it back?(押金多少、怎么退)
- Is there a break clause?(能不能提前解约)
- Who handles repairs?(报修找谁)
- What's the notice period?(退租要提前多久)
- Can I see the EPC / previous bills?(能不能看能耗证书或过往账单——判断冬天暖气费的唯一办法)
怎么练
租房场景的对话有个残酷的地方:你通常只有一次机会。看房二十分钟,房东同时约了三组人,你现场想句子,时间就过去了。
所以出发前值得真的把上面那份清单出声读一遍——六个问题,读三遍,两分钟。到了现场你会发现,能顺畅问出这几句本身就改变了对方对你的判断。
像话 可以把这步收进一个动作:你按自己的情况说一句(比如"水电包在房租里吗"),它给出母语者的说法并读给你听,你跟读,它逐词对比你和参考音的节奏。练的是你真要问的那几句。
刚落地的其他关卡:留学课堂英语、看病就医英语、打电话英语怎么说(跟中介打电话用得上)。
*像话(MirrorSay)是一款免费的 AI 英语口语练习 App:你说一句,它照出母语者的说法,再带你跟读。无需注册,你说的话不离开手机。*