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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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).
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.
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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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.
Same pronunciation but different meanings and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character 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.
Family therapy showed us how to communicate with each other.
11
那个家伙昨天在公园丢了钱包。
Nà gè jiāhuo zuótiān zài gōngyuán diūle qiánbāo.
That guy lost his wallet in the park yesterday.
12
你看见那个家伙了吗？他穿着红色的衣服。
Nǐ kànjiàn nà gè jiāhuo le ma? Tā chuānzhe hóngsè de yīfu.
Did you see that guy? He's wearing red clothes.
13
这个家伙真有趣，他总是讲笑话。
Zhè ge jiā huo zhēn yǒu qù, tā zǒng shì jiǎng xiào huà.
This guy is really funny, he's always telling jokes.
14
那个家伙跑得很快，我追不上他。
Nà ge jiā huo pǎo de hěn kuài, wǒ zhuī bù shàng tā.
That guy runs very fast, I can't catch up with him.
15
这个家伙喜欢吃辣的食物。
Zhè ge jiā huo xǐ huān chī là de shí wù.
This guy likes to eat spicy food.
16
刚刚来的家伙是谁？
Gāng gāng lái de jiā huo shì shéi?
Who is the guy who just arrived?
Cultural Notes for 家
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 家
Compounds8
嫁jia4(of a woman) to marry
稼jia4to sow grain
傢jia1stubborn, obstinate, intransigent
镓jia1gallium
幏
榢
糘
鎵
Words Containing This Character20
家jiāhome
大家dàjiāeveryone
国家guójiācountry國家
家伙jiāhuochap
回家huíjiāto return home
家庭jiātíngfamily
家里jiālǐhome家裡
专家zhuānjiāexpert專家
家人jiārénhousehold
人家rénjiahousehold
家族jiāzúfamily
家长jiāzhǎngfamily head家長
作家zuòjiāauthor
科学家scientist科學家
玩家player (of a game)
艺术家artist藝術家
家具jiājùfurniture
家乡jiāxiānghometown家鄉
家属jiāshǔfamily member家屬
全家quánjiāwhole family
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 嫁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 家
You can say '我家有四口人' (My family has four members) to indicate your family's size.
Yes, 家 can be used as a classifier for businesses, such as '一家餐厅' (a restaurant).
家 (jiā) refers to family or home, while 家伙 (jiāhuo) is a colloquial term meaning 'guy' or 'fellow,' often used in a more informal context.
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