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:

私たちは家族を守るために全力を尽くします。

Watashitachi wa kazoku o mamoru tame ni zenryoku o tsukushimasu

We will do our best to protect the family.

• 私たちは - "We"
• 家族を - "Family"
• 守るために - "To protect"
• 全力を尽くします - "We'll do our best"

私たちは新しい家を建てる予定です。

Watashitachi wa atarashii ie o tateru yotei desu

We plan to build a new home.

We planned to build a new home.

• 私たちは - "We" in Japanese.
• 新しい - "New" in Japanese.
• 家 - "Casa" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• 建てる - "Construir" in Japanese.
• 予定 - "Plan" or "Scheduling" in Japanese.
• です - polite form of "to be" or "to stay" in Japanese.

私の家の近くには美しい公園があります。

Watashi no ie no chikaku ni wa utsukushii en ga arimasu

There is a beautiful park near my house.

There is a beautiful park near my house.

• 私の家の近くには - "Near my house"
• 美しい - "bonito"
• 公園があります - "There is a park"

私の家はホームに近いです。

Watashi no ie wa hōmu ni chikai desu

My house is close to home.

• 私の家 - my house
• は - Topic particle
• ホーム - Train station
• に - Location particle
• 近い - Next
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

統一は国家の発展に不可欠な要素です。

Tōitsu wa kokka no hatten ni fukaketsu na yōso desu

Unification is an essential element for the development of the nation.

• 統一 - means "unity" in Japanese.
• は - It is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 国家 - means "state" or "nation" in Japanese.
• の - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates possession or the relationship between two words.
• 発展 - means "development" or "growth" in Japanese.
• に - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the direction or purpose of an action.
• 不可欠 - means "essential" or "indispensable" in Japanese.
• な - is a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the adjectivization of a word.
• 要素 - means "element" or "factor" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite and respectful way of saying "to be" or "to be" in Japanese.

統治は国家の安定に不可欠な要素です。

Touji wa kokka no antei ni fukaketsu na youso desu

Government is an essential element for the stability of the nation.

• 統治 - governance
• 国家 - nation-state
• 安定 - stability
• 不可欠 - indispensable
• 要素 - element

跡継ぎは家族の誇りです。

Atotsugi wa kazoku no hokori desu

Succession is the pride of the family.

• 跡継ぎ - Successor
• は - Topic particle
• 家族 - family
• の - Possession particle
• 誇り - Pride
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

軍隊は国家の安全を守るために必要です。

Gun tai wa kokka no anzen o mamoru tame ni hitsuyōdesu

The Army is needed to protect national security.

• 軍隊 (gun-tai) - army
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 国家 (kokka) - Nation, State
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 安全 (anzen) - security
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 守る (mamoru) - protect, guard
• ために (tame ni) - in order to
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - necessary
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

農家は自然と共に生きる。

Nōka wa shizen to tomo ni ikiru

Farmers live with nature.

• 農家 - farmer
• は - Topic particle
• 自然 - nature
• と - connecting particle
• 共に - together
• 生きる - live