Advice to Rent an Apartment

David：I want to ask you for a favor. I want to rent an apartment here in Beijing，but as a foreigner，I don’t know the normal practice. Can you give me some advice?

You： 首先，你得告诉我你想要什么样的公寓，比如房间要多大，想住在哪儿，是不是要住在市区，有什么爱好，然后我才知道什么样的公寓最适合你。

David：I am a student and want to live in Haidian, so that I can live close to my school. I like to play soccer and I like a quiet apartment so I can study.(我是个学生，想住在海淀，这样离学校近点。我喜欢踢足球，想要一个安静的公寓来学习。)

You：我觉得两居室带一个厨房的公寓就很适合你。我可以介绍学校附近一处公寓给你。在七楼，非常安静，很适合学习。

David：That sounds great!(听起来不错!)

You： 你可以去学校的操场踢足球，说不定你还可以交到一些中国朋友。公寓离市场很近，内部设施也不错。

David：Thank you so much, That’s very kind of you.(非常感谢，你太好了。)

分析：

今天分析“你”要讲的第一句：“首先，你得告诉我你想要什么样的公寓，比如房间要多大，想住在哪儿，是不是要住在市区，有什么爱好，然后我才知道什么样的公寓最适合你。”

常见错误：

Firstly, I think you should tell me what you need such as how big a room, where you want to live such as in the center of this city and your hobbies. Then I can choose the best room suitable for you.

点评：

“the best room suitable for you” 的说法听起来有点累赘，不如说“the best room for you”,或是“the most suitable room for you”。

例如：A: Based on your experience, I’d say the best job for you is in sales.

依你的经历，我觉得最适合你的工作是销售。

B: You really think that sales is the most suitable job for me?

你真的觉得我做销售最适合吗？

参考答案：

First, why don’t you tell me what you need, such as how big a room, where you want to live, whether you want to live in downtown, and what you like to do. Then I can figure out which apartment is most suitable for you.

点评：

“why don’t you(do something)”表示的并不是说话者真正想问“为什么”，而是提出一种建议“怎么不……”。

A: Why are you riding so slowly?

你怎么骑得这么慢呢？

B: My tire is flat again, It always needs air.

车胎又没气了，总得打气。

A: Why don’t you get that tire replaced and be done with it?

怎么不换一个呢？

B: You are right, I will do it this afternoon.

你说的对，我下午就去换。