Definitions

jiā (noun) home; family
jiā (noun) specialist; expert (as suffix, like -ist or -er in English)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and a remnant of represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "家" is structured with the roof radical "宀" placed over the component "豕" meaning pig, forming a compound that conceptually represents a dwelling where domesticated animals are kept, indicating an early association between a settled household and livestock management in agrarian life. Etymologically, this composition points to the economic foundation of the family unit, where the presence of livestock symbolized stability and prosperity. Over time, the primary meaning of "家" shifted from denoting a physical home or familial residence to encompassing abstract notions such as a lineage or clan, and further extended to classify groups like schools of thought or professional specialties, reflecting broader social and cultural adaptations in its usage.

Example Sentences Hide

我爱我的

Wǒ ài wǒ de jiā.

I love my home.

在北京。

Tā jiā zài Běijīng.

His home is in Beijing.

我的人很友好。

Wǒ de jiārén hěn yǒuhǎo.

My family members are very friendly.

我每天回吃饭。

Wǒ měitiān huí jiā chīfàn.

I go home to eat every day.

这个庭非常幸福。

Zhège jiātíng fēicháng xìngfú.

This family is very happy.

周末我们全去公园。

Zhōumò wǒmen quán jiā qù gōngyuán.

On weekends, our whole family goes to the park.

因为下雨,我不能回

Yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒ bù néng huí jiā.

Because it's raining, I can't go home.

她离开乡已经十年了。

Tā líkāi jiāxiāng yǐjīng shí nián le.

She has left her hometown for ten years.