屋企
uk1 kei2
The Cantonese word for house is 屋企 (uk1 kei2).
屋企 is used to express the concept of 'home' as a place of residence or a place where one's family is, rather than just a physical structure.
Meaning: human abode (noun)
Which one should you use?
屋企 refers specifically to one's own home or the place where one lives, whereas 房屋 (uk1 fung1) refers to a physical building or a house as a piece of real estate.
How do you pronounce it?
uk1 kei2
Did you know?
- The character 屋 (uk1) originally depicted a woman 女 under a roof 宀, suggesting that in ancient times the home was seen as the woman's domain.
- Cantonese speakers use the term 屋企人 (uk1 kei2 jan4) to refer to family members, literally translating to 'house-home people'.
- In Cantonese, the word 屋 (uk1) is used to describe anything shaped like a house, such as the 'house' of a snail or the shell of a turtle.
Examples in context
- 佢住喺我屋企附近。He lives near my house.This sentence shows how to use 屋企 to describe living near someone's house.Tatoeba #4826776 by kaenif, translation #294406 by CK
- 我屋企尋晚俾人爆格。My house was broken into last night.This sentence uses 屋企 to describe a house being broken into.Tatoeba #424965 by nickyeow, translation #244861 by CK
- 我俾佢喺我屋企瞓咗一晚。I let him sleep at my house for the night.This sentence shows how to use 屋企 when allowing someone to sleep at your house.Tatoeba #1345635 by nickyeow, translation #662580 by bluepie88
- 佢住喺一個唐樓。He lives in an older-style building.
- 呢度嘅屋邨好方便。The housing estate here is very convenient.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about visiting each other's homes.
- 美玲 Mei Ling你屋企大唔大呀？nei5 uk1 kei2 daai6 m4 daai6 aa3?Is your house big?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔算大，好簡單呀。m4 syun3 daai6, hou2 gaan2 daan1 aa3.It's not that big, it's very simple.
- 美玲 Mei Ling下次我不如去你屋企玩。haa6 ci3 ngo5 bat1 jyu4 heoi3 nei5 uk1 kei2 waan2.Next time, why don't I go to your house to hang out?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好呀，隨時歡迎你。hou2 aa3, ceoi4 si4 fun1 jing4 nei5.Sure, you're welcome anytime.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
