Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
成家 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
成家chéngjiāto settle down and get married (of a man)HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15178, Very Hard
成家chéngjiāto become a recognized expertHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #15178, Very Hard
chéngjiā(cheng2jia1)cheng jia T2
  1. 1to settle down and get married (of a man)
  2. 2to become a recognized expert
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

成家chéngjiā(cheng2jia1)

The term 成家 (chéng jiā) primarily means to settle down and get married, typically referring to a man establishing a family. It can also imply becoming a recognized expert in a particular field, indicating a level of maturity and responsibility in both personal and professional contexts.

Strokes16Frequency#15178DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 成家 is deeply rooted in societal expectations, where settling down is often seen as a significant milestone in a man's life, reflecting maturity and social stability.

Memory tip

Imagine a man named Cheng who, after years of wandering, finally builds a cozy home (家 jiā) for his family. The character 成 (chéng) resembles a person standing tall, symbolizing achievement or completion, like him settling down.

Meanings of 成家

chéngjiā(cheng2jia1)
1to settle down and get married (of a man)
2to become a recognized expert
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 成家 means.

About 成家

成家Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 成家

JasonAmy

Podcast: 成家

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 成家

Quick Contrast

成婚 (chénghūn) — use 成家 when referring to settling down and establishing a family, while 成婚 specifically focuses on the act of getting married.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using 成家 in informal contexts when discussing marriage, as it can sound too formal. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone (chéng) can often be confused with the third tone. A typical collocation is '成家立业' (chéng jiā lì yè), meaning to settle down and establish a career.

HSK Study Tips

While 成家 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 4 by discussing life events and responsibilities. Focus on related terms like 家庭 (jiā tíng - family) and 事业 (shì yè - career) to expand vocabulary around family and professional life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 成家 with casual terms for dating or relationships. For example, saying '我想成家' (I want to settle down) is appropriate, but saying '我想成家了' (I have settled down) suggests an unexpected finality, as it's generally used for future aspirations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 成家

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 成家, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 成家 to you

Let me explain 成家 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 成家 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 成家?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 成家 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

成chéngto succeed
HSK 66 strokes戈
View full entry
家jiāhome
HSK 110 strokes宀
View full entry

How to say to settle down and get married (of a man) in Chinese

“to settle down and get married (of a man)” in Chinese is成家chéngjiā

The term 成家 (chéng jiā) primarily means to settle down and get married, typically referring to a man establishing a family. It can also imply becoming a recognized expert in a particular field, indicating a level of maturity and responsibility in both personal and professional contexts.

When to use 成家

Common mistakes include using 成家 in informal contexts when discussing marriage, as it can sound too formal. Be mindful of the tone; the second tone (chéng) can often be confused with the third tone. A typical collocation is '成家立业' (chéng jiā lì yè), meaning to settle down and establish a career.

成家 or something close to it

成婚 (chénghūn) — use 成家 when referring to settling down and establishing a family, while 成婚 specifically focuses on the act of getting married.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 成家 with casual terms for dating or relationships. For example, saying '我想成家' (I want to settle down) is appropriate, but saying '我想成家了' (I have settled down) suggests an unexpected finality, as it's generally used for future aspirations.

Write 成家

成
家

Practice writing 成家 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 成家?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 成家

While it can be used for women, it is more commonly associated with men; women usually use the term 结婚 (jié hūn - to get married).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 成家?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab