宅 (zhái) — (bound form) residence, house (used in compound words such as 住宅, 宅子); (internet slang) homebody, otaku (in compounds like 宅男, 宅女)
Definition
As a bound form, 宅 means 'residence' in formal compounds like 住宅 and 宅子. In modern internet slang it combines with 男/女 to mean 'homebody' (宅男, 宅女) — someone who stays home and avoids going out.
bound form
residencehouse (used in compound words such as 住宅, 宅子)(internet slang) homebodyotaku (in compounds like 宅男, 宅女)
Examples
- ，。Zhè ge zhù zhái hěn dà, jià gé yě hěn gāo.This residence is very big and the price is also high.
- ，。Tā mǎi le yí gè xiǎo zhái zi, yí gè rén zhù hěn shū fu.He bought a small house; it's very comfortable living alone.
- ，宅。Tā zhěng tiān dài zài fáng jiān lǐ, shì gè diǎn xíng de zhái nán.He stays in his room all day; he's a typical otaku.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
乇
乇tuō宅zhái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 宅, the 宀 part is a roof, and the 乇 part gives the sound.
Appears in
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