家人

• Pinyin: jiā rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 家 (family, home) + 人 (person) — the people of one's family

Meaning

Family members; family. Refers to the people in one's immediate family.

Emphasizes the people rather than the household. Used warmly in conversation about one's relatives. Can include extended family but usually refers to the immediate household. Often appears in 我的家人 (my family members).

Examples

1. 我的家人都在北京。 My family members are all in Beijing.
2. 你和家人住在一起吗？ Do you live with your family?
3. 她很想念家人。 She misses her family very much.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 我爱我的家人。(I love my family.)
• 家人最重要。(Family is the most important.)

Don't Say

• 我有五家人。(家人 is not counted with a number this way — say 我家有五口人)

Origin & History

Compound of 家 (family, home) and 人 (person, people) — the people of one's household.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal