Neighbors & Community
intermediate邻里社区
Learn vocabulary for interacting with neighbors, navigating residential compounds, dealing with property management, and participating in community life in China.
38 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
38 words, click any row for an example sentence
People
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 邻居 | línjū | neighbor | noun |
| 物业 | wùyè | property management | noun |
| 保安 | bǎo'ān | security guard | noun |
| 快递员 | kuàidìyuán | delivery person; courier | noun |
| 业主 | yèzhǔ | property owner; homeowner | noun |
| 租客 | zūkè | tenant; renter | noun |
| 居委会 | jūwěihuì | neighborhood committee | noun |
Places
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 小区 | xiǎoqū | residential compound; gated community | noun |
| 电梯 | diàntī | elevator | noun |
| 楼道 | lóudào | corridor; hallway (of a building) | noun |
| 地下车库 | dìxià chēkù | underground parking garage | noun |
| 门禁 | ménjìn | access control; gate pass system | noun |
| 快递柜 | kuàidì guì | parcel locker; delivery locker | noun |
| 楼梯 | lóutī | staircase; stairs | noun |
| 出入 | chūrù | to enter and exit; access | verb |
Situations
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 包裹 | bāoguǒ | package; parcel | noun |
| 噪音 | zàoyīn | noise | noun |
| 漏水 | lòu shuǐ | to leak water; water leak | verb |
| 投诉 | tóusù | to complain; complaint | verb |
| 帮忙 | bāngmáng | to help; to do a favor | verb |
| 装修 | zhuāngxiū | to renovate; renovation | verb |
| 停车 | tíngchē | to park (a vehicle) | verb |
| 垃圾分类 | lājī fēnlèi | garbage sorting; waste classification | noun |
| 通知 | tōngzhī | notice; to notify | noun |
| 停电 | tíng diàn | power outage; to cut off electricity | verb |
| 维修 | wéixiū | to repair; maintenance | verb |
| 签收 | qiānshōu | to sign for (a delivery) | verb |
Social
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 打招呼 | dǎ zhāohu | to greet; to say hello | verb |
| 串门 | chuànmén | to visit neighbors; to drop by | verb |
| 微信群 | Wēixìn qún | WeChat group | noun |
| 吵架 | chǎojià | to quarrel; to argue | verb |
| 热心 | rèxīn | warm-hearted; enthusiastic | adjective |
| 相处 | xiāngchǔ | to get along (with each other) | verb |
| 物业费 | wùyè fèi | property management fee | noun |
| 安静 | ānjìng | quiet; peaceful | adjective |
| 公告栏 | gōnggào lán | bulletin board; notice board | noun |
| 广场舞 | guǎngchǎng wǔ | square dancing (group exercise) | noun |
| 遛弯儿 | liùwānr | to go for a stroll | verb |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
你好，我是隔壁新搬来的。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì gébì xīn bān lái de.
Hello, I just moved in next door.
Introducing yourself to a new neighbor for the first time.
请问物业的电话号码是多少？
Qǐngwèn wùyè de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshao?
May I ask what the property management phone number is?
Asking a neighbor or guard for the property management contact.
楼上太吵了，能不能小声一点？
Lóushàng tài chǎo le, néng bù néng xiǎo shēng yìdiǎn?
It is too noisy upstairs. Could you please keep it down?
Politely asking an upstairs neighbor to reduce noise.
快递放在快递柜了，取件码发你了。
Kuàidì fàng zài kuàidì guì le, qǔjiàn mǎ fā nǐ le.
Your package is in the parcel locker. I sent you the pickup code.
Common message from a delivery person or neighbor via WeChat.
我家漏水了，可以找物业来修吗？
Wǒ jiā lòu shuǐ le, kěyǐ zhǎo wùyè lái xiū ma?
My home is leaking. Can I get property management to come fix it?
Reporting a water leak to property management or a neighbor.
有空来我家坐坐。
Yǒu kòng lái wǒ jiā zuòzuo.
Come visit my home when you have time.
Inviting a neighbor to visit, a common Chinese courtesy expression.
能帮我收一下快递吗？我今天不在家。
Néng bāng wǒ shōu yíxià kuàidì ma? Wǒ jīntiān bú zài jiā.
Could you help me collect a package? I am not home today.
Asking a neighbor for help receiving a delivery.
小区的门禁密码改了吗？
Xiǎoqū de ménjìn mìmǎ gǎi le ma?
Has the compound access code been changed?
Asking a neighbor or guard about access code updates.
垃圾应该扔在哪里？
Lājī yīnggāi rēng zài nǎlǐ?
Where should I throw the garbage?
Asking about garbage disposal locations when new to a compound.
可以加一下你的微信吗？以后有事方便联系。
Kěyǐ jiā yíxià nǐ de Wēixìn ma? Yǐhòu yǒu shì fāngbiàn liánxì.
Can I add your WeChat? It will be convenient for contacting each other.
Exchanging WeChat contacts with a new neighbor.
电梯坏了，应该找谁修？
Diàntī huài le, yīnggāi zhǎo shéi xiū?
The elevator is broken. Who should I contact to fix it?
Asking about who is responsible for elevator repairs.
晚上十点以后请不要大声说话。
Wǎnshang shí diǎn yǐhòu qǐng bú yào dà shēng shuōhuà.
Please do not speak loudly after 10 p.m.
Reminding neighbors about quiet hours in a shared building.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Meeting a New Neighbor
A new resident runs into a neighbor in the elevator and they introduce themselves. They exchange WeChat contacts and the neighbor shares some helpful information about the compound.
Speaker A
你好，我是刚搬到1502的，我姓张。
Speaker B
欢迎欢迎！我住1501，我姓李。以后咱们就是邻居了。
Speaker A
请问咱们小区的垃圾扔在哪里？我找了半天没找到。
Speaker B
一楼出去往右拐，有专门的垃圾分类点。要分干垃圾和湿垃圾。
Speaker A
谢谢！对了，物业电话你有吗？有些东西需要修一下。
Speaker B
有，我发给你。我把你拉到咱们楼的微信群里吧，有什么事在群里说很方便。
Speaker A
太好了，谢谢李哥！有什么不懂的我再问你。
Speaker B
没问题，有事随时说。欢迎你搬来我们小区！
Cultural note: In Chinese apartment buildings, neighbors commonly address each other with kinship terms like 哥 (gē, older brother) or 姐 (jiě, older sister) to create a warm and familiar atmosphere. Being added to a building WeChat group is one of the first social steps when moving into a new compound.
Complaining About Noise to Property Management
A resident calls property management to complain about constant renovation noise from a neighbor's apartment during rest hours.
Speaker A
喂，你好，我是8栋1203的住户。我想反映一个问题。
Speaker B
您好，请说。
Speaker A
楼上1303每天中午装修，电钻声特别大，我家孩子午休根本没法睡觉。
Speaker B
我理解您的情况。按照规定，中午十二点到两点是休息时间，不能进行装修作业。
Speaker A
是的，我已经跟他们说过了，但是没有用。所以才打电话给物业。
Speaker B
好的，我们会派人去跟1303的业主沟通，提醒他们遵守装修时间规定。
Speaker A
谢谢，希望尽快解决。如果还不行的话我再联系你们。
Speaker B
放心，我们一定处理好。给您添麻烦了。
Cultural note: Chinese residential compounds typically have strict renovation time rules. Most prohibit renovation work during the noon rest period (12:00-14:00) and after 6:00 or 8:00 p.m. The property management company (物业) acts as a mediator in disputes between residents.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Neighbors & Community Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
5 of 38 words appear in HSK levels
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.