Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
家长(家長)jiāzhǎng(jia1zhang3)
家长 (jiāzhǎng) refers to the head of a household or the primary guardian of a child, usually the parent. This term encompasses both biological and adoptive parents, and it carries connotations of responsibility and authority within the family structure.
Frequency#3233DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of 家长 is particularly significant, as they are often expected to take an active role in their children's education and decision-making. This reflects the value placed on familial hierarchy and respect for parental authority.
Memory Tip
Imagine a family home (家) with a large parental figure (长) standing at the door, welcoming everyone. The character 家 resembles a house, while 长 suggests a long-lasting presence or leadership. Together, they create the image of a guardian at home.
Meanings of 家长
jiāzhǎng(jia1zhang3)
1head of a household
2family head
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 家长
家长Simplified
家長Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 家长
Podcast: 家长
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 家长
Quick Contrast
父母 (fùmǔ) refers specifically to parents, while 家长 (jiāzhǎng) encompasses all guardians, including non-biological ones.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a family home (家) with a large parental figure (长) standing at the door, welcoming everyone. The character 家 resembles a house, while 长 suggests a long-lasting presence or leadership. Together, they create the image of a guardian at home.
Usage Notes
家长 is typically used in formal contexts, such as school meetings or official documents, to refer to a child's guardian. A common mistake is using it in a casual conversation where simply saying '父母' (fùmǔ, parents) would suffice. Be careful with tones; mispronouncing '长' could change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 家长 is not currently included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other family-related terms at HSK Level 3, such as 父母 (fùmǔ, parents) and 孩子 (háizi, child). Focus on recognizing the role of 家长 in discussions about family and education.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of 家长 is particularly significant, as they are often expected to take an active role in their children's education and decision-making. This reflects the value placed on familial hierarchy and respect for parental authority.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 家长 with the term 监护人 (jiānhùrén), which specifically means 'guardian.' For example, saying '我的家长是我的监护人' (My guardian is my guardian) is redundant; it should be '我的家长是我的父母' (My guardian is my parents).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 家长
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 家长 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 家长 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 家长
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the role of 家长 is particularly significant, as they are often expected to take an active role in their children's education and decision-making. This reflects the value placed on familial hierarchy and respect for parental authority.
Frequently Asked Questions about 家长
家长 refers specifically to the head of a household or guardian, while 父母 simply means parents.
Yes, 家长 can apply to any primary guardian, including relatives or guardians who are not biological parents.
No, 家长 is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as schools or legal documents.
