Writing
家 (jiā) — how to say "family" in Chinese
家
Family, home; measure word for businesses and establishments
noun · noun measure word · suffix
1. family; home, houseHSK 3.0 · level 1
noun
2. measure word for families, businesses, establishmentsHSK 3.0 · level 1
noun measure word
3. -ist, specialist, expert (as a suffix in profession names)HSK 3.0 · level 3
suffix
How to use it
Goes between a number (or 这/那) and the noun; a number can't attach to a noun without it.
这条街有三家店。
zhè tiáo jiē yǒu sān jiā diàn
There are three shops on this street.
Radicals / Keys
宀
Roof
#40 · mián · 3 strokes
Synonyms
Collocations
在家
zài jiā
at home
我的家
wǒ de jiā
my home
Examples
今天我在家看电视，我很高兴。
Today I watch TV at home, I am very happy.
我家在北京
My family is in Beijing. / I live in Beijing.
Mnemonic
[jiā-] Jack and Jill 👫 are building their dream home 家 on a hill. They place a big roof over the structure, imagining a cozy family life inside. Under the wide roof, their dream 家 comes to life, filled with love and laughter, where family always comes first. 🏡
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "family" in Chinese?
"family" in Chinese is 家 (jiā).
家 meaning in English
家 (jiā) means "Family, home; measure word for businesses and establishments".
How is 家 pronounced?
It is pronounced jiā (written as jia). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
Family in Chinese characters
It is written 家 and has 10 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 家?
家 belongs to the HSK 1 vocabulary list.
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Learn Chinese words with spaced repetition
Add 家 to your vocabulary and remember it with smart reviews, audio and examples.
Grammar with 家
在 — location with “to be at”
Subj. + 在 (zài) + Place
来 vs 去 — coming and going
来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Place
在 — location before verbs
Subj. + 在 (zài) + Place + Verb
离 — distance from a place
Place 1 + 离 (lí) + Place 2 + Adv. + 近 (jìn) / 远 (yuǎn)
都 — emphasizing quantity
Subj. + 都 (dōu) + Predicate / Verb Phrase
时 — when, at the time of
Time + 时 (shí)