Usage note
租表示用钱暂时使用别人的东西。
zū biǎo shì yòng qián zàn shí shǐ yòng bié rén de dōng xī。
租 means to temporarily use something by paying money.
Context note
租常用于房子、车子和物品。
zū cháng yòng yú fáng zi 、 chē zi hé wù pǐn。
It is often used for houses, cars, and items.
5 examples
我们租了一间房子。
wǒ men zū le yì jiān fáng zi。
We rented a room.
他想租一辆车。
tā xiǎng zū yí liàng chē。
He wants to rent a car.
这家店可以租书。
zhè jiā diàn kě yǐ zū shū。
This shop can rent books.
你要租多久？
nǐ yào zū duō jiǔ？
How long do you want to rent for?
房租很高。
fáng zū hěn gāo。
The rent is high.
5 mini stories
他们在学校附近租了房。
tā men zài xué xiào fù jìn zū le fáng。
They rented a place near the school.
周末可以租自行车。
zhōu mò kě yǐ zū zì xíng chē。
You can rent a bicycle on the weekend.
他先租再决定要不要买。
tā xiān zū zài jué dìng yào bu yào mǎi。
He rents first before deciding whether to buy.
这间店租出去很多工具。
zhè jiān diàn zū chū qù hěn duō gōng jù。
This shop rents out many tools.
租房前要先看清楚合同。
zū fáng qián yào xiān kàn qīng chǔ hé tong。
Before renting a house, you should read the contract carefully.
Mini dialogue
借书
A
这本书真有趣，你在哪里买的？
Zhè běn shū zhēn yǒuqù, nǐ zài nǎlǐ mǎi de?
This book is so interesting. Where did you buy it?
B
不是买的，是我从图书馆租的。
Bù shì mǎi de, shì wǒ cóng túshūguǎn zū de.
I didn't buy it. I rented it from the library.
周末出游
A
周末我们去公园骑车吧，可是没有自行车。
Zhōumò wǒmen qù gōngyuán qí chē ba, kěshì méiyǒu zìxíngchē.
Let's go cycling in the park this weekend, but we don't have bikes.
B
没关系，公园门口可以租自行车。
Méiguānxi, gōngyuán ménkǒu kěyǐ zū zìxíngchē.
No problem. We can rent bikes at the park entrance.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
借
jiè
to borrow
租 means to pay money to use something; 借 is usually free.
contrast
买
mǎi
to buy
租 is temporary use; 买 means you own it forever.