家

• Pinyin: jiā
• Hanzi breakdown: 家 = 宀 (roof) + 豕 (pig) — a pig under the roof symbolised a settled home

Meaning

Home; family; household. Also a measure word for businesses and institutions.

As a noun, means home or family. As a measure word, counts businesses, restaurants, shops, and institutions (一家商店, 一家公司). Can also be a suffix indicating a specialist: 画家 (painter), 作家 (writer).

Examples

1. 我想回家。 I want to go home.
2. 你家有几口人？ How many people are in your family?
3. 这家饭店很好吃。 This restaurant is really good.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday, business

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 我要回家了。(I'm going home now.)
• 附近有一家咖啡店。(There's a coffee shop nearby.)

Don't Say

• 我去我的家。(Unnatural — just say 我回家, no need for 我的 or 去)

Origin & History

The character shows 宀 (roof) over 豕 (pig). In ancient China, keeping pigs under the roof was a sign of a settled household, hence 'home.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal