Definitions

(verb) to rent; to lease
(noun) rent; rental fee
(noun) land tax

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "land tax". The meaning later shifted to "rent" and "hire".

About

The character 租 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 禾 (grain) on the left with the phonetic component 且 on the right. Its original meaning was rooted in agrarian society, referring to land rent or agricultural tax paid in harvested grain to landlords or the state. Although payment later shifted to currency, the core idea of paying for temporary use of property remained. Today, 租 primarily means to rent or lease, encompassing both the tenant's act of paying for temporary use of housing, vehicles, equipment, or land, and the owner's act of letting property for compensation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

了一辆车。

Wǒ zūle yī liàng chē.

I rented a car.

这本书是的。

Zhè běn shū shì zū de.

This book is rented.

我想一个公寓。

Wǒ xiǎng zū yīgè gōngyù.

I want to rent an apartment.

金每月一千元。

Zūjīn měi yuè yīqiān yuán.

The rent is 1000 yuan per month.

的房子大吗?

Nǐ zū de fángzi dà ma?

Is the house you rented big?

他因为没钱所以车。

Tā yīnwèi méi qián suǒyǐ zū chē.

He rented a car because he didn't have money.

如果你要旅行,可以一辆自行车。

Rúguǒ nǐ yào lǚxíng, kěyǐ zū yī liàng zìxíngchē.

If you want to travel, you can rent a bicycle.

这家公司专门出办公设备。

Zhè jiā gōngsī zhuānmén chūzū bàngōng shèbèi.

This company specializes in renting office equipment.