房東 / 房东
fángdōng
The English word landlord can be translated into Chinese as 房東 / 房东 (fángdōng), 東家 / 东家 or 地主.
Meaning: person who owns and rents land such as a house, apartment, or condo (verb)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 房東 / 房东 | fángdōng |
| 東家 / 东家 | dōngjia |
| 地主 | dìzhǔ |
The term used depends on whether you are talking about someone renting out a residence or someone who owns large tracts of land.
Which one should you use?
房東 / 房东 (fángdōng) is the standard term used specifically for someone who rents out residential property like apartments or houses. In modern urban settings, it is the most common and neutral way to refer to a landlord. In contrast, 地主 (dìzhǔ) refers to a landlord in the sense of an owner of large tracts of land or an estate, often used in historical or agricultural contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
fángdōng
Did you know?
- The term 東家 / 东家 comes from the ancient custom of the host or master of the house sitting in the east, which was considered the position of honor. This is why 東 (east) became synonymous with the owner or employer.
- In modern Chinese urban slang, some tenants jokingly refer to their landlord as 房东大爷 (fángdōng dàyé). The term 大爷 literally means 'great-uncle' or 'grandfather', but here it implies the landlord acts like a pampered boss who expects total obedience.
- In historical contexts, the term 地主 (dìzhǔ) carries a heavy political weight due to the land reform movements of the 20th century. In certain eras, being labeled a 地主 could lead to severe social or legal persecution.
Examples in context
- 我理解您是我们的房东。I understand that you are our landlord.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “landlord” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
