酒家 (jiǔ jiā) — tavern (often with traditional character); rest…

Definition

A literary or traditional-style term for a restaurant or tavern where people drink and dine. More formal and old-fashioned than everyday 饭店 or 餐厅.

noun

tavern (often with traditional character)restaurant (in formal or literary contexts)

Measure word · 家

酒家。
Zhè jiā jiǔ jiā de cài hěn yǒu míng.
This tavern's food is very famous.
酒家。
Gǔ dài shī rén cháng qù jiǔ jiā hē jiǔ xiě shī.
Ancient poets often went to taverns to drink and write poetry.
酒家。
Tā zài jiǔ jiā dìng le yì zhuō jiǔ xí.
He booked a banquet table at the restaurant.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

The wine 酒 and the house 家 combine to name a place serving drink and food.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

酉

酉yǒu酒jiǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

酒 pairs 酉, the original picture for this word, with 水 (water), added later to distinguish it.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢑓

𢑓𢑓家jiā

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The early drawing of 家 showed a roof 宀 over a male-pig sign 𢑓 that gave the pronunciation; the lower part later changed shape.