公寓

• Pinyin: gōng yù
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = communal; 寓 = 宀 (roof) + 禺 — a place to lodge, a dwelling

Meaning

Apartment; flat. A self-contained residential unit within a multi-storey building, typically rented.

In Chinese usage, 公寓 often implies furnished or serviced accommodation, sometimes with hotel-style amenities. 服务式公寓 (serviced apartment) caters to business travellers and long-term residents. Distinguished from 商品房 (purchased commercial housing) and 宿舍 (dormitory). Popular in cities among young professionals and students.

Examples

1. 她在市中心租了一套两室一厅的公寓，通勤十分便利。 She rented a two-bedroom apartment downtown, making her commute very convenient.
2. 这栋高档公寓楼配备了健身房、游泳池和二十四小时礼宾服务。 This upscale apartment building comes with a gym, a swimming pool, and 24-hour concierge service.
3. 初到异乡的留学生通常会先选择住在学校附近的公寓里。 International students new to a city often choose to live in an apartment near campus first.

Usage Guide

Context: housing, urban life, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他在北京租了一套月租八千元的单身公寓。(He rented a studio apartment in Beijing for eight thousand yuan a month.)
• 公寓楼的公共区域由物业公司负责日常清洁与维护。(The common areas of the apartment building are maintained by the property management company.)

Don't Say

• 用'公寓'指代农村独栋自建住宅 — 公寓 refers to units in multi-storey buildings; for standalone rural homes use 农家 or 独栋住宅

Origin & History

公 (communal/shared) + 寓 (dwelling; to reside)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Urban residents