Home Repairs
intermediate家庭维修
Learn how to describe household problems, call repair workers, discuss tools, and navigate the Chinese approach to home maintenance.
39 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
39 words — click any row for an example sentence
Problems
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 坏了 | huài le | broken / not working | phrase |
| 漏水 | lòu shuǐ | to leak water | verb |
| 堵了 | dǔ le | clogged / blocked | phrase |
| 没电了 | méi diàn le | no electricity / power is out | phrase |
| 跳闸 | tiào zhá | to trip the circuit breaker | verb |
| 裂了 | liè le | cracked | phrase |
| 下水道 | xiàshuǐdào | drain / sewer | noun |
| 水管 | shuǐguǎn | water pipe | noun |
| 噪音 | zàoyīn | noise | noun |
| 灯泡 | dēngpào | light bulb | noun |
| 马桶 | mǎtǒng | toilet | noun |
| 水龙头 | shuǐlóngtóu | faucet / tap | noun |
| 插座 | chāzuò | electrical outlet / socket | noun |
| 开关 | kāiguān | switch | noun |
| 漏电 | lòu diàn | electrical leak / short circuit | verb |
Getting Help
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 修理工 | xiūlǐgōng | repairman / repair worker | noun |
| 电工 | diàngōng | electrician | noun |
| 水管工 | shuǐguǎngōng | plumber | noun |
| 物业 | wùyè | property management | noun |
| 师傅 | shīfu | master / skilled worker (respectful title) | noun |
| 上门服务 | shàngmén fúwù | on-site service / house call | noun |
| 维修费 | wéixiū fèi | repair fee | noun |
| 报修 | bàoxiū | to report a repair need / to submit a repair request | verb |
| 保修 | bǎoxiū | warranty | noun |
| 零件 | língjiàn | spare parts / components | noun |
Tools
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 锤子 | chuízi | hammer | noun |
| 螺丝刀 | luósīdāo | screwdriver | noun |
| 钳子 | qiánzi | pliers | noun |
| 胶带 | jiāodài | tape / adhesive tape | noun |
| 螺丝 | luósī | screw | noun |
| 扳手 | bānshǒu | wrench | noun |
| 工具箱 | gōngjùxiāng | toolbox | noun |
| 钉子 | dīngzi | nail | noun |
Actions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 修 | xiū | to repair / to fix | verb |
| 换 | huàn | to replace / to change | verb |
| 装 | zhuāng | to install | verb |
| 拆 | chāi | to disassemble / to take apart | verb |
| 检查 | jiǎnchá | to inspect / to check | verb |
| 维修 | wéixiū | to maintain / maintenance | verb |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
空调坏了，能不能来看看？
Kōngtiáo huài le, néng bù néng lái kànkan?
The air conditioner is broken, can you come take a look?
Calling property management or a repair service to report a broken appliance.
师傅，大概需要多长时间？
Shīfu, dàgài xūyào duō cháng shíjiān?
Master, about how long will it take?
Asking the repair worker for a time estimate.
维修费怎么算？
Wéixiū fèi zěnme suàn?
How is the repair fee calculated?
Asking about pricing before agreeing to a repair.
这个还能修吗？还是要换新的？
Zhège hái néng xiū ma? Háishi yào huàn xīn de?
Can this still be repaired? Or does it need to be replaced?
Asking the repair worker whether repair or replacement is the better option.
我跟物业说一下。
Wǒ gēn wùyè shuō yíxià.
I will let property management know.
Telling someone you will report the issue to the building management.
水管漏水了，需要赶快修。
Shuǐguǎn lòu shuǐ le, xūyào gǎnkuài xiū.
The water pipe is leaking, it needs to be fixed urgently.
Reporting an urgent plumbing problem.
你们有上门服务吗？
Nǐmen yǒu shàngmén fúwù ma?
Do you offer house call service?
Asking a repair company if they make home visits.
请问保修期是多长时间？
Qǐngwèn bǎoxiū qī shì duō cháng shíjiān?
How long is the warranty period?
Asking about warranty coverage when buying an appliance or after a repair.
灯泡烧了，你能帮我换一下吗？
Dēngpào shāo le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ huàn yíxià ma?
The light bulb burned out, can you help me change it?
Asking someone for help with a simple repair task.
我在网上找了一个修理师傅。
Wǒ zài wǎng shàng zhǎo le yí gè xiūlǐ shīfu.
I found a repairman online.
Telling someone you found a repair service through an app or website.
先别用了，等师傅来看看。
Xiān bié yòng le, děng shīfu lái kànkan.
Do not use it for now, wait for the repairman to take a look.
Warning someone not to use a malfunctioning appliance before it is inspected.
这个问题不大，自己可以修。
Zhège wèntí bú dà, zìjǐ kěyǐ xiū.
This is not a big problem, you can fix it yourself.
Assessing a minor issue that does not require professional help.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Reporting a Problem to Property Management
A resident calls the property management office to report a water leak in their apartment.
Speaker A
你好，我是十二栋三零一的住户。我们家卫生间漏水了。
Speaker B
好的，请问是哪里漏水？严重吗？
Speaker A
好像是水管接口的地方，水一直在滴。
Speaker B
我马上让水管工过去看看。您方便的话，请先把那个区域的水阀关了。
Speaker A
好的，大概多久能来？
Speaker B
半个小时以内。师傅到了会提前给您打电话。
Speaker A
好的，谢谢！
Speaker B
不客气，有问题随时联系我们。
Cultural note: In Chinese apartment complexes, 物业 (wùyè, property management) is the first point of contact for most home repair issues. Residents pay monthly property management fees (物业费, wùyè fèi) that cover basic maintenance of common areas and often include initial response for in-unit problems. The property management team typically has a roster of trusted repair workers they can dispatch.
A Repairman Fixes the Air Conditioner
A repair worker arrives to fix an air conditioner that has stopped cooling.
Speaker A
师傅您好，空调打开了但是不制冷。
Speaker B
我先检查一下。您这个空调用了几年了？
Speaker A
大概五年了。还在保修期内吗？
Speaker B
一般保修期是三年，已经过了。我看看是什么问题。
Speaker A
好的，麻烦您了。
Speaker B
找到原因了，是需要加氟。加完就好了。
Speaker A
好的，大概要多少钱？
Speaker B
加一次氟大概两百块。我现在就给您加。
Cultural note: Addressing repair workers as 师傅 (shīfu, "master") is the standard and respectful way to address any skilled manual worker in China, including repairmen, taxi drivers, and construction workers. It acknowledges their expertise and is considered much more polite than simply calling someone by a generic term. Saying 麻烦您了 (máfan nín le, "sorry to trouble you") is also important for maintaining good rapport.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Home Repairs Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
6 of 39 words appear in HSK levels