回家

• Pinyin: huí jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 回 (to return) + 家 (home) — going back home

Meaning

To go home; to return home. One of the most common verb-object phrases in Chinese.

A verb-object compound (回 + 家). Because 家 functions as the object, you cannot add another object directly. To say 'go back to whose home', insert the possessive: 回他家 (go to his home). Very frequently used in daily conversation.

Examples

1. 我想回家了。 I want to go home now.
2. 放学以后我就回家。 After school, I go straight home.
3. 你几点回家？ What time do you go home?

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, family

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 太晚了，我要回家了。(It's too late, I need to go home.)
• 你什么时候回家？(When are you going home?)

Don't Say

• 我回家我的家。(Redundant — 回家 already means going home, don't add 我的家)

Origin & History

Compound of 回 (to return) and 家 (home) — returning to one's home.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal