Learn a Chinese Character - 家

1. Character Basics

Radical: 宀 (mián radical, "roof" radical)

Stroke Count: 10

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jiā, jia, jie

3. Meaning

home, family, household, domestic, specialist, expert, school of thought

4. Common Words

• 家庭 (jiā tíng) - family, household
• 回家 (huí jiā) - to go home
• 家乡 (jiā xiāng) - hometown, native place
• 家长 (jiā zhǎng) - parent, guardian
• 国家 (guó jiā) - country, nation
• 家务 (jiā wù) - housework

5. Grammar & Usage

1. Used as a noun meaning "family" or "home"

2. Often used as a suffix to indicate a person's specialty or profession

3. Can be used to form compound words related to family or household

4. In Chinese culture, has deep significance related to family values

6. Cultural Background

The character 家 has been central to Chinese culture for thousands of years. Its structure (宀 roof + 豕 pig) originally referred to a house where pigs were kept, indicating a domestic setting. In Chinese culture, the family (家) is considered the foundation of society, and family values are highly emphasized. The concept of "家" extends beyond the immediate family to include ancestors and future generations.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character 家 has 10 strokes. It consists of the 宀(roof) radical on top and 豕(pig) below. You can remember it by thinking of "a roof over a pig" - which connects to its original meaning of a domestic setting or home.