jiā HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

这是我的家。
Zhè shì wǒ de jiā.
This is my home.
她在家。
Tā zài jiā.
She is at home.
我家很大。
Wǒ jiā hěn dà.
My home is very big.
我的家庭对我来说非常重要。
Wǒ de jiātíng duì wǒ lái shuō fēicháng zhòngyào.
My family is very important to me.
放学后我回家。
Fàngxué hòu wǒ huí jiā.
I go home after school.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the roof radical (宀) on top of 家, which resembles a pig (豕) underneath—historically, a home with livestock symbolized a settled family life.

📝 Usage Notes

家 is used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It's common in everyday conversations about family, residence, or affiliations (e.g., 国家 for nation). It can be a suffix in professions or schools of thought.

📖 Grammar Points

家 can be used as a noun (e.g., 我的家) or a measure word for businesses (e.g., 一家公司). It often appears in possessive structures like 我家 (my family/home) and compound words.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 家 emphasizes collectivism and familial bonds, often seen as central to social identity. It's a key concept in traditions like 春节 (Spring Festival), when families reunite.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 家庭 (jiātíng), which specifically means 'family' as a social unit, 家 is broader and can mean 'home' or be used more casually. 屋 (wū) means 'house' as a building, lacking the familial connotation.

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