Translation and Meaning of: 家 - ie

If you are learning Japanese, you may have come across the word 家[いえ] — a simple term, but packed with cultural and historical layers. In this article, we will explore everything from the etymology to the everyday use of this kanji, which goes far beyond the basic meaning of "house." Here at Suki Nihongo, the largest online Japanese dictionary, you will also find practical examples to include in your Anki and boost your studies. Let's uncover curiosities, memorization tips, and even puns that the Japanese love to use in their daily lives.

Why is this word so present in the Japanese vocabulary? Besides being essential to describe a home, 家[いえ] carries nuances of family, tradition, and even identity. If you've ever searched on Google about the origin of this kanji or how to differentiate it from other similar terms, you're in the right place. Let's dive into every detail, from the stroke of the pictogram to popular expressions that every Japanese language learner should know.

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 家

The kanji 家 is a visual and semantic combination of two elements: the radical 宀 (which represents a roof) and the character 豕 (domestic pig). Yes, you read that right — the original idea refers to a space where animals and humans coexist. In ancient China, where the character originated, this was common, and the symbol was eventually adopted by Japanese with the same meaning of "home."

It is interesting to note that, while in Portuguese "casa" comes from the Latin "casa" (hut), in Japanese the connection to rural life is even stronger. The kanji not only describes the physical structure but also the function of the space. Over time, いえ came to include the concept of family, as in 田中家[たなかけ] (Tanaka family). This duality — construction and social group — makes it one of the most versatile kanjis in the language.

Use in Daily Life and Popular Expressions

In daily life, the Japanese use 家 in contexts ranging from casual to formal. Phrases like 家に帰る[いえにかえる] ("going back home") are as common as our "I’m going home." But there are less obvious uses: in 家賃[やちん] (rent), the kanji appears combined, showing its connection to housing. Another example is 作家[さっか] (writer), where it metaphorically indicates "someone who works under a roof."

An interesting fact? Many puns arise from the alternative reading や. In restaurant names, like ラーメン家[らーめんや], the kanji takes on an air of "specialist" — almost like our "little house of..." for establishments. And who hasn't heard the expression 家を建てる[いえをたてる] (to build a house) in dramas about new beginnings? These details show how the word is rooted in culture.

Tips for Memorizing and Writing Correctly

To avoid confusing 家 with similar kanjis like 室[しつ] (room), remember the "pig under the roof." Visualizing the stroke helps: start with the roof (宀), then draw the animal (豕) with its four "legs" underneath. A common mistake is to reverse the order of the strokes — practice writing words like 家族[かぞく] (family) to solidify the movement.

Want an unbeatable tip? Associate the radical 宀 with other kanjis related to housing, such as 安[あん] (safe) or 宿[しゅく] (inn). Creating flashcards with images of traditional Japanese houses also works well, especially if you link it to the sound いえ. And when in doubt about usage, ask yourself: does this refer to a physical space or a group? The answer usually clarifies which term to apply.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 住まい (Sumai) - Residence, a place where one lives
• 住居 (Jūkyo) - Housing, residence
• 家屋 (Kaoku) - Residential building, a structure that houses a home
• 家庭 (Katei) - Family, home in a more intimate and familiar sense.
• 家宅 (Kataku) - Residence, the place where the family lives, more formal
• 家世 (Kasei) - Family lineage, origin of a family
• 家系 (Kakei) - Family tree, lineage
• 家族 (Kazoku) - Family, a group of people living together
• 家人 (Kajin) - Family members, people who live in the same house.
• 家人たち (Kajin-tachi) - Family members, used to emphasize a group of people from the same family.

家

Romaji: ie
Kana: いえ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: house

Meaning in English: House, home

Definition: A building where people live.

Example Sentences - (家) ie

See below some example sentences:

憲法は国家の基本法である。

Kenpou wa kokka no kihonhou de aru

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the State.

The Constitution is a basic national law.

• 憲法 - Constitution
• は - Topic particle
• 国家 - state
• の - Possession particle
• 基本法 - fundamental law
• である - is

実業家はビジネスの世界で成功するために必要なスキルを持っています。

Jitsugyōka wa bijinesu no sekai de seikō suru tame ni hitsuyō na sukiru o motte imasu

An entrepreneur possesses the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

Entrepreneurs have the necessary skills to succeed in the business world.

• 実業家 - entrepreneur
• は - Topic particle
• ビジネス - business
• の - Possession particle
• 世界 - world
• で - Location particle
• 成功する - succeed
• ために - for
• 必要な - necessary
• スキル - skills
• を - direct object particle
• 持っています - to possess

家は私たちの居場所です。

Ie wa watashitachi no ibasho desu

Home is our place.

Home is our place.

• 家 (ie) - means "house" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 私たち (watashitachi) - means "we" in Japanese
• の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese
• 居場所 (ibasho) - It means "a place where you feel at home" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - polite way to be/act in Japanese

家具を新しく買い換えたいです。

Kagu wo atarashiku kai kaetai desu

I want to exchange my furniture for new ones.

I want to buy new furniture.

• 家具 (kagu) - furniture
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 新しく (atarashiku) - new
• 買い換えたい (kaikae tai) - want to exchange/buy
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

家庭は大切なものです。

Katei wa taisetsu na mono desu

The family is very important.

The home is important.

• 家庭 - Means "family" in Japanese.
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 大切 - means "important" or "precious" in Japanese.
• な - it is a grammatical particle that indicates the adjectivization of the previous term.
• もの - means "thing" or "object" in Japanese.
• です - it is a polite way to state something in Japanese, equivalent to our "is" or "are".

地球は私たちの唯一の家です。

Chikyuu wa watashitachi no yuiitsu no ie desu

The earth is our only home.

The earth is our only home.

• 地球 (chikyuu) - Planet Earth
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私たち (watashitachi) - we
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 唯一の (yuiitsu no) - single
• 家 (ie) - house
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

地球は私たちの大切な家です。

Chikyuu wa watashitachi no taisetsu na ie desu

The earth is our precious house.

The earth is our important home.

• 地球 - Planet Earth
• は - Topic particle
• 私たち - We
• の - Possessive particle
• 大切な - Important
• 家 - House
• です - Verb to be/estar

何よりも家族が大切です。

Nani yori mo kazoku ga taisetsu desu

ABOVE ALL

Above all, the family is important.

• 何 - means "what" or "which"
• よりも - is a particle that indicates comparison, meaning "more than"
• 家族 - means "family"
• が - is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, meaning "the family"
• 大切 - means "important" or "valuable"
• です - is a particle that indicates the polite form of the verb "ser", meaning "is"

一家団欒が大切です。

Ikkadanran ga taisetsu desu

Family unity is important.

Family meeting is important.

• 一家 (ikka) - means "a family"
• 団欒 (danran) - means "family harmony"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 大切 (taisetsu) - means "important"
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form

一番大切なのは家族です。

Ichiban taisetsu na no wa kazoku desu

The most important thing is the family.

The most important thing is the family.

• 一番 - the most important
• 大切 - precious, valuable
• な - particle indicating emphasis
• の - Particle that indicates possession
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 家族 - family
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form