家务

• Pinyin: jiā wù
• Hanzi breakdown: 家 = 宀 (roof) + 豕 (pig) — a home with livestock; 务 = 攵 (action) + 力 (strength) — duties requiring effort

Meaning

Housework; household chores. The various tasks involved in maintaining a home.

Encompasses all domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and tidying up. Common collocations include 做家务 (to do housework), 家务活 (household tasks), and 分担家务 (to share the housework). The topic of who does the housework is a frequent subject in discussions about gender roles and family dynamics in China.

Examples

1. 周末的时候我会帮妈妈做家务。 On weekends I help my mum with the housework.
2. 他下班回来以后从来不做家务。 He never does any housework after coming home from work.
3. 我觉得家务应该夫妻一起分担。 I think housework should be shared between husband and wife.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, family, domestic

Tone: everyday

Do Say

• 你平时做什么家务？(What housework do you usually do?)
• 做家务也是一种锻炼。(Doing housework is also a form of exercise.)

Don't Say

• 我在办公室做家务 (Don't use 家务 for office work — 家务 strictly means household chores at home; use 办公 or 工作 for office tasks)

Origin & History

A compound of 家 (home/family) and 务 (affairs/duties), together meaning the affairs and duties of the household.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal