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宅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
宅
zhái
residence
n, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #6953, Hard
宅
zhái
(coll.) to stay in at home
n, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #6953, Hard
宅
zhái
to hang around at home
n, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #6953, Hard
宅
zhái
residence, dwelling, home; grave
n, 6 strokes, radical 宀, rank #6953, Hard
zhái(zhai2)zhai T2
1residence
2(coll.) to stay in at home
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March 24, 2026
宅zhái(zhai2)
The character 宅 (zhái) primarily means 'residence' or 'dwelling.' It can also colloquially refer to staying at home or hanging around rather than going out. This term is often associated with a sense of comfort and the idea of home as a safe space.
Strokes6Radical宀Frequency#6953DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In modern Chinese culture, the term 宅 has gained popularity with the rise of the '宅文化' (zhái wénhuà), or 'homebody culture,' which celebrates staying in, gaming, and enjoying indoor activities. This reflects a shift in leisure activities among the youth.
Memory tip
Imagine a cozy house (the roof radical 宀) where you feel safe and relaxed (宅). Think of 'zhái' as the sound of a door closing behind you, signaling that you're staying in. Picture yourself curling up with a book, enjoying the comfort of your宅.
Meanings of 宅
zhái(zhai2)
1residence
2(coll.) to stay in at home
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 宅 means.
About 宅
宅Simplified
6Strokes
宀Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6953Frequency Rank
Podcast: 宅
Podcast: 宅
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AI study notes for 宅
Quick Contrast
家 (jiā) - use 宅 (zhái) when emphasizing the concept of a dwelling or residence, while 家 (jiā) often refers to the idea of home or family.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 宅 with 家 (jiā), which also means home but emphasizes family. 宅 is more informal and often used in the context of staying in. Common collocations include 宅男 (zhái nán) for 'homebody' or 'otaku'.
HSK Study Tips
While 宅 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words about home and living spaces, like 家 (jiā) and 房子 (fángzi). Focus on how 宅 is used in informal contexts to describe lifestyle choices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 宅 with 家 (jiā), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我喜欢在家' (Wǒ xǐhuān zài jiā) is correct but saying '我喜欢在宅' (Wǒ xǐhuān zài zhái) is incorrect unless emphasizing the homebody aspect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宅
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 宅 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
宅 = 宀 + 乇. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 宅
IDS Structure⿱宀乇
宅Full character
=
宀gai4
top
乇tuo1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 宅?
How to say residence in Chinese
“residence” in Chinese is宅zhái
The character 宅 (zhái) primarily means 'residence' or 'dwelling.' It can also colloquially refer to staying at home or hanging around rather than going out. This term is often associated with a sense of comfort and the idea of home as a safe space.
When to use 宅
Be careful not to confuse 宅 with 家 (jiā), which also means home but emphasizes family. 宅 is more informal and often used in the context of staying in. Common collocations include 宅男 (zhái nán) for 'homebody' or 'otaku'.
宅 or something close to it
家 (jiā) - use 宅 (zhái) when emphasizing the concept of a dwelling or residence, while 家 (jiā) often refers to the idea of home or family.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 宅 with 家 (jiā), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我喜欢在家' (Wǒ xǐhuān zài jiā) is correct but saying '我喜欢在宅' (Wǒ xǐhuān zài zhái) is incorrect unless emphasizing the homebody aspect.
Write 宅
宅
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Practice writing 宅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 宅
宅 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
在新建的远郊住____区之间还有空地可以盖房。
There is room for infill between the new outer suburbs.
They are surveying the land before it is divided into house lots.
8
据说那座老宅子有鬼魂出没.
jùshuō nà zuò lǎo zhái zi yǒu guǐ hún chū méi.
People say ghosts haunt that old house.
9
小湾对岸,沿着河边,东卵豪华住宅区的洁白的宫殿式的大厦闪烁着光彩.
xiǎo wān duì’àn, yánzhe hé biān, dōng luǎn háohuá zhùzhái Ōu de jiébái de gōngdiàn shì de dàshà shǎnshuò zhe guāngcǎi.
Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water.
10
碰巧有一天,安东尼奥跟着爷爷一起来到伯爵的豪华住宅.
pèngqiǎo yǒu yī tiān, Ān dōng ní ào gēn zhe yéye yìqǐ láidào bà jué de háohuá zhùzhái.
It happened one day that Antonio went with his grandfather to the Count's great house.
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Cultural Notes for 宅
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in many Western cultures, where being a 'homebody' might carry a negative connotation, in China, 宅文化 is often embraced and celebrated, especially among younger generations.
Word Family of 宅
Compounds9
诧chàto be surprised
咤zhàto scold; to shout, to roar, to bellow
侘chà
垞chá
姹chàbeautiful, colorful; girl
挓zhā
烢chè
秺dù
詫chàsurprised, shocked
Words containing this character15
住宅zhùzháiresidence
宅zháiresidence
住宅区zhùzháiqūresidential area住宅區
民宅mínzháihouse
宅子zháizihouse
宅院zháiyuànhouse
家宅jiāzháihome
凶宅xiōngzháihaunted house兇宅
住宅楼zhùzháilóuresidential building住宅樓
宅第zháidìresidence
旧宅jiùzháiformer residence舊宅
阴宅yīnzháitomb (feng shui term)陰宅
故宅gùzháiformer home
宅舍zháishèhouse
浮家泛宅fújiāfànzháilit. to live on a boat
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 宅
What does 诧 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 宅
In everyday conversation, 宅 refers to someone who prefers to stay at home rather than go out, often associated with comfort and relaxation.
No, 宅 specifically refers to a residence or home; for a workplace, you would use 办公室 (bàngōngshì).
宅 is generally informal and is more commonly used in spoken language or casual writing.
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