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安家 (ān jiā) — to settle down and set up a home; to provide for one's family's welfare

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to settle down and set up a home' (安了一个家) or, as a goal ('为了安家'), 'to provide for one's family's welfare'. Used for the act of establishing a household, especially in a new place.

verb
to settle down and set up a hometo provide for one's family's welfare

Examples

  • 安家。
    Tā men dǎ suàn míng nián zài běi jīng ān jiā.
    They plan to settle down in Beijing next year.
  • 。
    Tā zhōng yú zài chéng lǐ ān le yí gè jiā.
    He finally set up a home in the city.
  • 安家，。
    Wèi le ān jiā, tā nǔ lì gōng zuò zǎn qián.
    To provide for his family, he worked hard to save money.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

安ānsettle
家jiāhome

安 means to settle, and 家 is the home, so the phrase means to settle down and make a 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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 →
Appears in
Home & Housing

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