房子

• Pinyin: fáng zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 房 = 户 (door) + 方 (square, phonetic) — a structure with a door; 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

House; building. Refers to a residential structure or dwelling.

A general word for house or building used for living. Commonly appears in conversations about buying, renting, or describing where someone lives. Different from 房间 (room), which refers to a single room inside a building.

Examples

1. 这个房子很大。 This house is very big.
2. 我想买一个房子。 I want to buy a house.
3. 他家的房子在学校旁边。 His family's house is next to the school.

Usage Guide

Context: housing, everyday

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 这个房子真漂亮。(This house is really beautiful.)
• 我们的房子不太大。(Our house is not very big.)

Don't Say

• 我住在一个房子里面。(Redundant — just say 我的房子 or give the location; no need to state you live 'inside' a house)

Origin & History

Compound of 房 (house, room) and 子 (noun suffix). 房 originally depicted a structure with a roof and walls.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal