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:

家畜は農業にとって重要な存在です。

Kachiku wa nōgyō ni totte jūyōna sonzai desu

Cattle is an important thing for agriculture.

• 家畜 - farm animals
• は - Topic particle
• 農業 - agriculture
• にとって - for
• 重要な - important
• 存在 - existence
• です - is

家賃が高いですね。

Kyachin ga takai desu ne

The rent is expensive

The rent is high.

• 家賃 - rent
• が - subject particle
• 高い - expensive
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present
• ね - particle of confirmation or agreement

我が家は静かです。

Wagaya wa shizuka desu

My house is quiet.

• 我が家 - It means "my house" in Japanese.
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 静か - "quiet" in Japanese means 静か (shizuka).
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating the current state of the house

木材は建築や家具作りに欠かせない素材です。

Mokuzai wa kenchiku ya kagu tsukuri ni kakasenai sozai desu

Wood is an indispensable material for construction and furniture.

• 木材 - wood
• 建築 - construction
• 家具作り - furniture manufacturing
• 欠かせない - indispensable
• 素材 - material

殊に大切なことは家族との絆です。

Shu ni taisetsu na koto wa kazoku to no kizuna desu

The most important thing is the bond with the family.

• 殊に - Especially
• 大切な - important
• ことは - the thing is
• 家族 - family
• との - with
• 絆 - ties
• です - is

私の家族には長男がいます。

Watashi no kazoku ni wa chōnan ga imasu

I have an eldest son in my family.

My family has the eldest son.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 家族 - noun meaning "family"
• には - particle indicating the existence of something in a certain place or situation
• 長男 - noun meaning "eldest son"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• います - verb meaning "to exist" or "to be present"

私の家の軒は赤いです。

Watashi no ie no noki wa akai desu

The eave of my house is red.

The eaves of my house are red.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 家 - noun that means "house"
• 軒 - noun that means "eaves" or "roof"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 赤い - adjective that means "red"
• です - verb indicating "to be" or "to exist" in a polite form

私は自分の家具を造ることができます。

Watashi wa jibun no kagu o tsukuru koto ga dekimasu

I can make my own furniture.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 自分 (jibun) - reflexive pronoun meaning "myself"
• の (no) - possessive particle that indicates that something belongs to someone
• 家具 (kagu) - noun that means "furniture"
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 造る (tsukuru) - verb that means "to do" or "to build"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be able to"

私は毎日家を掃く。

Watashi wa mainichi ie wo haku

I swear home every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 家 (ie) - noun that means "house"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "house"
• 掃く (haku) - verb meaning "to clean", conjugated in the present affirmative

私は友達を家に泊めました。

Watashi wa tomodachi o ie ni tomerimashita

I hosted my friend at home.

I stayed at home with my friends.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "friend"
• 家 (ie) - noun that means "house"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the location where the action took place, in this case, "at home"
• 泊めました (tomemashita) - verb that means "host" in the past