My student asked me a question when we study the word 商店(shāngdiàn) store, shop, because I said 一(yī)家(jiā)商店(shāngdiàn). Why 家(jiā)？ A family store? So let me talk about the word 家(jiā) today.

The word 家(jiā) originally means family or home, like 我(wǒ)家(jiā)有(yǒu)三(sān)口(kǒu)人(rén)。There are 3 people in my family. 我(wǒ)家(jiā)在(zài)北京(běijīng)。My home is in Beijing. I’m living in Beijing. 我(wǒ)要(yào)回(huí)家(jiā). I want to go back home.

The character 家(jiā) has two parts. The upper part of this character represents the roof of the house. The lower part of this character is called 豕(shǐ), which is a Chinese character for pigs in ancient China. So having a house to live in and being able to raise livestock is considered having a home.

So the overall saying of a family is 家庭(jiātíng);

family members are 家人(jiārén);

the parent or guardian of a child is 家长(jiāzhǎng); 

hometown is家乡(jiāxiāng); 

home-made food are 家常菜(jiāchángcài);

a private tutor working at some one’s house is 家教(jiājiào);

Washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, all of these household appliances are called 家用(jiāyòng)电器(diànqì).

Later, the meaning of 家(jiā) was extended. In ancient China, people generally conducted business on a family basis, so we started to use 家(jiā) to measure not only families, but also businesses, shops, companies, organizations, and so on.

一(yī)家(jiā)餐厅(cāntīng) a restaurant

一(yī)家(jiā)酒店(jiǔdiàn) a hotel

一(yī)家(jiā)公司(gōngsī) a company

一(yī)家(jiā)超市(chāoshì) a supermarket

一(yī)家(jiā)医院(yīyuàn) a hospital

一(yī)家(jiā)银行(yínháng) a bank

学校(xuéxiào)旁边(pángbian)那(nà)家(jiā)餐厅(cāntīng)的(de)烤鸭(kǎoyā)很(hěn)好吃(hǎochī)。The roast duck at the restaurant next to the school is delicious.

我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)去(qù)看(kàn)了(le)一(yī)家(jiā)工厂(gōngchǎng)，觉得(juédé)很(hěn)不错(búcuò)，打算(dǎsuàn)跟(gēn)他们(tāmen)合作(hézuò)了(le)。I went to see a factory yesterday and found it very good. I plan to cooperate with them.

你(nǐ)听说(tīngshuō)过(guò)北京(běijīng)语言(yǔyán)大学(dàxué)吗(ma)？这(zhè)家(jiā)学校(xuéxiao)的(de)中文(zhōngwén)课(kè)很(hěn)好(hǎo)，你(nǐ)可以(kěyǐ)试试(shìshi)。Have you heard of Beijing Language and Culture University? The Chinese classes at this school are very good, you can have a try. Register from our website and book a 20 mins trial class!