租 zū rent
rent; rent out
How to remember 租: 禾 grain + 且 moreover = rent. Short on cash, the student offers her landlord a sack of grain and, moreover, an old bookcase instead of this month's rent.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
租 = 禾 grain + 且 moreover
- 禾 grain meaning
- 且 moreover sound
Short on cash, the student offers her landlord a sack of grain and, moreover, an old bookcase instead of this month's rent.
How it came to be
In the small seal, grain gives the meaning and the part on the right the sound, because land rent was paid in grain.
How it is used
- The verb for renting, and it works both directions: 我租了一间房 (wǒ zū le yì jiān fáng) I rented a room (tenant), and 房子租给学生 (fángzi zū gěi xuéshēng) the house is rented out to students (landlord).
- In compounds it names rent money and rental services: 房租 (fángzū) the rent, 出租车 (chūzūchē) taxi (lit. rent-out car).
- For buying, not renting, use 买 (mǎi); 租 is only temporary use for a fee.
Words with 租
Example sentences
- 我想租一套公寓。 Wǒ xiǎng zū yī tào gōngyù.I want to rent an apartment.
- 我乘出租车离开。 Wǒ chéng chūzūchē líkāi.I'm leaving by taxi.