出租 (chū zū) is a verb meaning 'to rent out' — to allow someone else to use your property, vehicle, or other asset for a fee over a period of time. The first character 出 (chū) means 'to go out' or 'to issue', and the second 租 (zū) means 'rent' or 'lease'. Together, they convey the idea of 'sending out for rent' — that is, making something available to others for rental. It is commonly used in real estate ('rent out an apartment'), transportation ('rent out a car'), and business services.

This word is neutral in register and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese. It typically appears with a direct object (e.g., 房子, 车, 办公室) and often pairs with aspect particles like 了 or 过 to indicate completion or experience. Unlike 租 (zū) alone — which can mean either 'to rent' (intransitive) or 'to lease' (transitive) depending on context — 出租 is strictly transitive and always implies the speaker or subject is the owner/lessor offering the item for rent.