回家
huí jiā
The English phrase 'go back home' is translated into Chinese as 回家 (huí jiā).
The phrase 回家 is used to mean both 'to go home' and 'to return home'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two parts: 回, which means 'to return' or 'to go back' and 家, which means 'home' or 'family'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the phrase to change its nuance. Adding the particle 了 after 回家 to form 回家了 indicates a change of state or a completed action, often used to mean someone has already left for home or is currently heading home. Adding 去, which means 'to go', to the end to form 回家去 emphasizes the direction of movement away from the speaker's current location toward home.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is huí jiā.
Did you know?
- The character 家 originally depicted a pig 豕 under a roof 宀. This reflects an ancient cultural belief that a true 'home' was a place where livestock were sheltered for survival.
- During the Spring Festival, the phrase '回家' becomes a centerpiece of national conversation. The massive scale of people using this phrase to move across the country is known as the 'Chunyun' or 'Spring Festival travel rush', the largest human migration on Earth.
- The character 回 is also used in the word for 'answer' or 'reply', as in 回答. This creates a conceptual link between 'returning' a direction and 'returning' a question with an answer.
Examples in context
- 我準備回家了。I'm ready to go back home.This sentence shows how to express readiness to use 回家.Tatoeba #6198949 by verdastelo9604, translation #5216285 by CK
- 我會跟你一起回家。I'll go back home with you.This sentence shows how to express doing something with someone using 回家.Tatoeba #6150013 by verdastelo9604, translation #1388125 by CK
- 我建議你轉身回家。I suggest you turn around and go back home.This sentence shows how to suggest someone use 回家.Tatoeba #6325138 by verdastelo9604, translation #3127894 by CK
- 你现在可以回家了。You can go back home now.
- 我每天晚上九点回家。I go back home at 9 p.m. every night.
- 我终于可以回到家了，好想念自己的床。I can finally go back home, I miss my own bed so much.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Junjie and Xiaowen are finishing work in the evening.
- 俊杰 Junjie太晚了，我們回家吧。Tai wan le, women huijia ba.It's too late, let's go back home.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好啊，我也想回家休息。Hao a, wo ye xiang huijia xiuxi.Okay, I want to go back home and rest too.
- 俊杰 Junjie明天見。Mingtian jian.See you tomorrow.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen明天見，再見。Mingtian jian, zaijian.See you tomorrow, goodbye.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
