How to Write 家 (jiā) — Meaning “Home / Family”

Picture a pig (豕) sleeping under a roof (宀) to remember that 家 means 'home' or 'family'. The roof protects the pig, just like a home protects your family.

Write the roof (宀) first: dot, horizontal stroke, then left-falling hook. Then write the pig (豕) below: horizontal, left-falling, hook, left-falling, right-falling, and finally a dot. A common mistake is making the bottom part too wide or writing the hook too long.

家 has a pig (豕) under the roof, while 宓 has a heart or 'certainty' (必) under the roof and means 'quiet'. 宕 has a stone (石) under the roof and means 'indulge' or 'delay'. Remember: 家 = roof + pig → home.

家 is used in common words like 回家 (go home), 家人 (family members), and 大家 (everyone). Culturally, home and family are very important in Chinese society, so 家 appears in many phrases about returning home for holidays like Chinese New Year.

Common words containing 家 include: 家人 (jiā rén) — Family members; 回家 (huí jiā) — To go home.; 大家 (dà jiā) — Everyone.