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:

私は毎日家事をします。

Watashi wa mainichi kaji o shimasu

I do the household tasks every day.

I do housework 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"
• 家事 (kaji) - noun that means "household chores"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "household chores"
• します (shimasu) - verb that means "to do"

私は仕事と家庭を兼ねることができます。

Watashi wa shigoto to katei wo kaneru koto ga dekimasu

I can reconcile work and family.

I can serve as work and home.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 仕事 (shigoto) - noun that means "work"
• と (to) - particle indicating a connection between two things
• 家庭 (katei) - noun meaning "family" or "home"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 兼ねる (kaneru) - verb meaning "to reconcile" or "to bring together"
• ことができます (koto ga dekimasu) - expression that indicates ability or capacity, meaning "to be able to"

私の家族はとても大切です。

Watashi no kazoku wa totemo taisetsu desu

My family is very important to me.

My family is very important.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• の (no) - possession particle in Japanese, indicating that "my" family home
• 家族 (kazoku) - means "family" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that "the family" is the subject of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 大切 (taisetsu) - adjective meaning "important" or "precious" in Japanese
• です (desu) - verb to be in Japanese, indicating "is" important to my family

私は毎月家賃を払い込む必要があります。

Watashi wa maitsuki yachin wo haraikomu hitsuyou ga arimasu

I need to pay rent every month.

I need to pay my rent every month.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 毎月 - Japanese adverb meaning "every month"
• 家賃 - Japanese noun that means "rent"
• を - direct object particle that indicates the object of the action, in this case "rent"
• 払い込む - Japanese verb that means "to pay (an amount) in advance"
• 必要 - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• あります - Japanese verb that means "to have," in the sense of "it is necessary to have."

私の家は近所にあります。

Watashi no ie wa kinjo ni arimasu

My house is in the neighborhood.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 家 - noun that means "house"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 近所 - noun meaning "neighborhood" or "district"
• に - particle indicating direction or destination
• あります - verb meaning "to be located" or "to exist"

私の実家は山の中にあります。

Watashi no jikka wa yama no naka ni arimasu

My parents' house is in the mountains.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 実家 - noun meaning "parents' house", "family home"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "about"
• 山 - noun that means "mountain"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 中 - noun that means "middle", "center"
• に - particle indicating location, equivalent to "in"
• あります - verb that means "to be", "to exist"

私の家主はとても親切です。

Watashi no kashu wa totemo shinsetsu desu

My owner is very kind.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "mine"
• 家主 - noun that means "homeowner"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the homeowner"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 親切 - adjective meaning "kind"
• です - verb that indicates "to be", in this case, "is"

私は今日友達の家に寄ります。

Watashi wa kyō tomodachi no ie ni yorimasu

I'm going to my friend's house today.

I'm stopping at my friend's house today.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 今日 - noun that means "today"
• 友達 - noun meaning "friend"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of the friend"
• 家 - noun that means "house"
• に - particle that indicates destination, in this case "for"
• 寄ります - verb that means "to visit"

私たちの家は公園に面しています。

Watashitachi no ie wa kōen ni menshite imasu

Our house faces the park.

Our house faces the park.

• 私たちの - 私たち
• 家 - "house" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 公園 - "parque" in Japanese
• に - Location particle in Japanese
• 面しています - "facing" in Japanese

私たちは共働き家庭です。

Watashitachi wa kyoudouki katei desu

We are a double -income family.

We are a family of double workers.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 共働き - "Working together" or "double job" in Japanese, referring to a couple who both work outside the home
• 家庭 - "Family" in Japanese
• です - "It is" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is a statement