房东

• Pinyin: fáng dōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 房 = 户 (door) + 方 (direction), meaning house/room; 东 = simplified from 東, meaning east or host

Meaning

Landlord; property owner. The person who owns a rental property.

Used for both male and female landlords. In modern China, 房东 is the standard term for anyone who rents out property, whether an apartment, house, or commercial space. Often discussed in the context of renting and housing.

Examples

1. 房东说下个月要涨房租。 The landlord said the rent will increase next month.
2. 我们的房东人很好，经常帮我们修东西。 Our landlord is very nice and often helps us fix things.
3. 签合同之前要跟房东确认清楚所有的条件。 Before signing the contract, confirm all the conditions with the landlord.

Usage Guide

Context: housing, rental, everyday

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你跟房东签合同了吗？(Have you signed a contract with the landlord?)
• 房东同意让我养猫。(The landlord agreed to let me keep a cat.)

Don't Say

• 我是这个酒店的房东 (Don't use 房东 for hotel owners — 房东 refers specifically to residential landlords; use 老板 for hotel or business owners)

Origin & History

Compound of 房 (house) and 东 (east, here meaning host/owner from 东家), literally the master of the house.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal