‘转租’ (zhuǎn zū) is a verb meaning ‘to sublet’ — that is, to rent out property you yourself are renting to another person. The first character 转 (zhuǎn) means ‘to transfer’ or ‘to pass on’, and the second character 租 (zū) means ‘to rent’. Together, they literally express the idea of transferring a rental right to someone else. This term is commonly used in housing, commercial leases, and shared accommodation contexts in China and other Mandarin-speaking regions.

‘转租’ typically implies the original tenant remains responsible to the landlord, and subletting often requires the landlord’s written consent — otherwise it may violate the lease agreement. It’s a formal, legally relevant term frequently seen in contracts, real estate listings, and housing platforms. Unlike casual terms like ‘share a room’, ‘转租’ carries contractual weight and usually involves signing a new sublease agreement.