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在家 (zài jiā) — to be at home; to stay in; (Buddhist context) to remain a layperson (not a monk)

Definition

In everyday use 在家 means 'to be at home / stay in' (opposite of going out). It can also mean 'remain a layperson' in Buddhism — not having taken monastic vows.

verb
to be at hometo stay in(Buddhist context) to remain a layperson (not a monk)

Examples

  • 在家，。
    Wǒ zhōu mò yì bān zài jiā, bù chū mén.
    I usually stay at home on weekends and don't go out.
  • ？
    Nǐ mā ma zài bú zài jiā?
    Is your mother at home or not?
  • 在家，。
    Tā xuǎn zé zài jiā xiū xíng, guò pǔ tōng rén de shēng huó.
    He chose to practice Buddhism as a layperson and live an ordinary life.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàibe at
家jiāhome

"在" gives being located, and "家" is home, so the sense is staying at home.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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.

Open 家 →
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