Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 公寓 | gōngyù |
| 套間 / 套间 | tàojiān |
| 套房 | tàofáng |
In Chinese, several terms can refer to an apartment depending on whether you are discussing the building type, a specific unit or the residential nature of the space. The term 公寓 describes an apartment within a larger building that typically contains multiple units. When emphasizing the residential aspect of such a dwelling, you may use 公寓房. To specifically refer to an apartment unit within a building, the term 单元房 is used.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 公寓 is composed of 公 meaning public and 寓 meaning residence or dwelling.
Which one should you use?
While 公寓 refers to the entire apartment unit or the building type itself, 套房 is used to describe a single suite or a studio-style apartment. In real estate contexts, 套房 commonly refers to a single-room unit or a suite that includes a private bathroom. Additionally, the term 单元房 can be used to specify an apartment unit within a building.
How do you pronounce it?
gōngyù
Did you know?
- In mainland China, the term 单元房 reflects a historical period of urban planning where buildings were divided into distinct 'units' to manage household registration and administration.
- The character 寓 in 公寓 is also used in the word 寓言, which means 'fable'. Both share the root idea of a story or a lesson 'dwelling' within a narrative.
- In some luxury real estate listings, you may see the term 大平层, which refers to a massive single-floor apartment that mimics the feel of a detached villa within a high-rise.
Examples in context
- 我们租了公寓。We rented an apartment.This sentence shows how to use 公寓 to express renting an apartment.Tatoeba #10230453 by GlossaMatik, translation #262701 by CK
- 公寓有花園嗎？Does the apartment have a garden?This sentence uses 公寓 to ask if an apartment has a garden.Tatoeba #13734216 by LeviHighway, translation #11454862 by shekitten
- 她的公寓有幾間房呢？How many rooms does she have in her apartment?This sentence uses 公寓 to ask about the number of rooms in an apartment.Tatoeba #8091310 by jenny5752, translation #7963143 by CH
- 请问你们这里有没有出租的公寓?Excuse me, do you have any apartments for rent here?
- 我正在寻找一套公寓房.I am currently looking for a residential apartment.
- 我在找一套靠近市中心的房子.I'm looking for a house/apartment near the city center.
- 我有朋友住在公房里.I have a friend living in public housing.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Junjie and Xiaowen are talking about their living situation.
- 俊杰 Junjie你的公寓在哪个区？Nǐ de gōngyù zài nǎge qū?Which district is your apartment in?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我的公寓在市中心。Wǒ de gōngyù zài shìzhōngxīn.My apartment is in the city center.
- 俊杰 Junjie那附近很方便吧？Nà fùjìn hěn fāngbiàn ba?Is it convenient around there?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，离地铁站很近。Shì de, lí dìtiězhàn hěn jìn.Yes, it's very close to the subway station.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apartment” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
