If you are a newcomer to Beijing, you may find it difficult to find a home for yourself. The Beijing Housing Service Corporation for Diplomatic Missions provides free consulting on office or residential accommodation, including recommending suitable homes to foreign organizations when necessary. You can also call on the services of trustworthy housing agents to do the job.

    Mài kè: Wǒ dǎ suàn lìng zhǎo yí gè dì fang zhū. 麦克：我打算另找一个地方住。 Mike: I am thinking about renting a new place to live. Lì li: Wǒ yǒu gè péng yǒu zhèng xiǎng chū zū tā de gōng yù ne. 丽丽：我有个朋友正想出租他的公寓呢。 Lili: I have a friend who wants to rent out his apartment.

    Mài kè: Zài shén me wèi zhi? Wǒ bù xiǎng zhù chù lí dān wèi tài yuǎn. 麦克：在什么位置？我不想住处离单位太远。 Mike: Where is it located? I don't want anything too far from my work.

    Lì li: Zài xī zhí mén fù jìn, qí zì xíng chē dà yuē bàn xiǎo shí jiù dào dān wèi le. 丽丽：在西直门附近，骑自行车大约半小时就到单位了。 Lili: It is near Xizhimen. It will only take half an hour to cycle to your work.

    Mài kè: Néng bāng wǒ dǎ tīng yí xià gōng yù de dà xiǎo hé jià qián ma? 麦克：能帮我打听一下公寓的大小和价钱吗？ Mike: Really! Can you ask him the size of his apartment and the price?

    Lì li: Shì yí tào sān jū shì de gōng yù, jiǔ shí píng mǐ, měi yuè sān qiān wǔ bǎi yuán. 丽丽：是一套三居室的公寓，九十平米，每月三千五百元。 Mike: Yes. The five fuwas are very cute.

    Mài kè: Jià qián yǎu diǎn gāo, néng pián yi xiē ma? 麦克：价钱有点高，能便宜些吗？ Mike: That's too much. Can he make it a little bit cheaper?

    Lì li: Rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng zū de huà, wǒ kě yǐ bāng nǐ kǎn kǎn jià. 丽丽：如果你想租得话，我可以帮你砍砍价。 Lili: I can help you do the bargaining if you want to rent it.

    Mài kè: Tā de gōng yù shì xīn zhuāng xiū guò de ma? 麦克：他的公寓是新装修过的吗? Mike: Is the apartment newly-decorated?

    Lì li: Shì de, gāng gāng zhuāng xiū bù jiǔ, kàn shàng qù hěn piào liàng. 丽丽：是的，刚刚装修不久，看上去很漂亮。 Lili: Yes, it has just been finished. It looks very nice.

    Mài kè: Xiǎo qū yǐ jí zhōu wéi de huán jìng zěn me yàng? 麦克：小区以及周围的环境怎么样？ Mike: What are the surroundings and the community like?

    Lì li: Tǐng bú cuò de, huán jìng yōu měi, gè zhǒng shè shī dōu he qí quán. 丽丽：挺不错的，环境幽美，各种设施都很齐全。 Lili: Not bad. The area is beautiful and it has all the facilities you need.

    Mài kè: Nǐ míng tiān dài wǒ qù jiàn jian nǐ de péng yǒu, kàn kàn fáng zi hǎo ma? 麦克：你明天带我去见见你的朋友、看看房子好吗？ Mike: Can you take me to see your friend and the house tomorrow?

    Lì li: Hǎo de. Shùn lì de huà, nǐ men hěn kuài jiù kě yǐ qiān yuē le. 丽丽：好的。顺利的话，你们很快就可以签约了。 Lili: Okay. If everything goes well, you can sign the lease quickly.