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March 24, 2026
家(傢)jiā(jia1)
The character 家 (jiā) primarily means 'home' or 'family.' It is commonly used to refer to one's household or relatives, and it can also denote a classifier for families and businesses. Additionally, it serves as a suffix for specialists in various fields, such as musicians or artists.
Strokes10Radical宀Frequency#157DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family (家) is deeply valued, often emphasizing respect for elders and familial loyalty. Family gatherings during festivals, such as the Spring Festival, highlight the importance of the home as a gathering place.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cozy house with a family gathered inside, representing the idea of 'home.' The character 家 looks like a roof (the top part) over a person (the bottom part), symbolizing protection and warmth, which is what home represents. Remember 'jiā' sounds like 'ja' in 'jazz,' a lively family gathering around music.
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AI Study Notes for 家
Quick Contrast
家庭 (jiātíng) refers specifically to the family unit, while 家 (jiā) can mean home or family more broadly, including the concept of household.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 家 (jiā) with other characters that have similar meanings, such as 房 (fáng) for 'building' or 'house,' which is more about the physical structure. Use '家' when referring to the concept of home or family in a more personal context. It is generally informal, so use it with friends and family.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 家 (jiā) is essential for beginners as it connects directly to the concepts of home and family, which are fundamental in daily conversation. Students should practice using it in simple sentences about their own families, such as '我家有五个人' (There are five people in my family).
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 家 (jiā) when referring to the physical structure of a house instead of the concept of home or family. For example, saying '我住在家' (I live in home) is incorrect; it should be '我住在房子里' (I live in a house).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 家
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Etymology of 家
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 豕 represents the sound.
家 = 宀 + 豕. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 家
IDS Structure⿱宀豕
家Full Character
=
宀gai4
top
豕shi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 家?
How to say home in Chinese
“home” in Chinese is家jiā
The character 家 (jiā) primarily means 'home' or 'family.' It is commonly used to refer to one's household or relatives, and it can also denote a classifier for families and businesses. Additionally, it serves as a suffix for specialists in various fields, such as musicians or artists.
When to use 家
Learners often confuse 家 (jiā) with other characters that have similar meanings, such as 房 (fáng) for 'building' or 'house,' which is more about the physical structure. Use '家' when referring to the concept of home or family in a more personal context. It is generally informal, so use it with friends and family.
家 or something close to it
家庭 (jiātíng) refers specifically to the family unit, while 家 (jiā) can mean home or family more broadly, including the concept of household.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 家 (jiā) when referring to the physical structure of a house instead of the concept of home or family. For example, saying '我住在家' (I live in home) is incorrect; it should be '我住在房子里' (I live in a house).
Write 家
家
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Grammar Patterns of 家
家 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 8 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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他回____了没有？
Has he gone home?
Common Confusions with 家
家vs假
jiǎ
Similar sound and shape but different meanings.
家vs加
jiā
Same pronunciation but different meanings and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “home”?
or
Usage Notes for 家
Misusing 家Common Error
Learners sometimes confuse 家 with other similar characters that refer to people or professions. Remember that 家 specifically denotes family or a specialized person.
1
我家有四口人。
My family has four members.
2
他是一名音乐家。
He is a musician.
Usage as a ClassifierGrammar Tip
家 can be used as a classifier for families or businesses, so it’s important to know how to use it in context.
1
这是一家餐厅。
This is a restaurant.
2
我有一家小公司。
I have a small company.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
