房子
fángzi/fɑŋ³⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩³/
In Chinese, the word for house can be expressed in several ways depending on whether you mean a physical structure or a home. If unsure, use 房子 (fángzi). Wiktionary also lists фонзы (fonzɨ) and 厝 (chhù).
Meaning: human abode (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| фонзы | fonzɨ | Dungan | |
| 厝 | chhù | /t͡sʰu̯ɔ⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡sʰɔːk̚³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /t͡sʰou̯³³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /t͡sʰiɔ³³/ (Min Bei, Jian'ou, Sinological IPA) /t͡sʰuɔ²¹³/ (Min Dong, Fuzhou, Sinological IPA) /t͡sʰɔu⁴²/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Donghai, Putian, Xianyou) /t͡sʰou⁴²/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Jiangkou, Youyang, Fengting) /t͡sʰɔ⁴²/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Nanri) /t͡sʰu⁴¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Tong'an, Philippines, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /t͡sʰu¹¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Tong'an, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Taipei, General Taiwanese) /t͡sʰu²¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Tong'an, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese) /t͡sʰu¹¹²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Tong'an, Philippines, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /t͡sʰi²¹³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Longyan, Longyan) /t͡sʰu²¹³/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /t͡sʰu²¹/ (Min Nan, Leizhou, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕi³⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡sɪk̚²/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
Hokkien |
| 住宅 | chū-the̍h, chū-the̍eh | /ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯³⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡syː²² t͡saːk̚²⁻³⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /t͡sʰu⁵⁵ t͡sʰet̚⁵/ (Hakka, Sixian, Miaoli, Neipu, Sinological IPA) /t͡ʃʰu³³ t͡sʰet²/ (Hakka, Hailu, Zhudong, Sinological IPA) /t͡su⁴¹⁻²² tʰeʔ²⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /t͡su³³⁻¹¹ tʰeʔ⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Sinological IPA, Taipei, General Taiwanese) /t͡su³³⁻²¹ tʰeʔ⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Sinological IPA, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese) /t͡su²²⁻²¹ tʰeʔ⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /t͡su²²⁻²¹ tʰɛʔ¹²¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Sinological IPA) /t͡su³⁵⁻¹¹ tʰeʔ⁴/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /zɹ̩²² zaʔ⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Sinological IPA) |
Hokkien |
| 房屋 | fángwū | /fɑŋ³⁵ u⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /fɔːŋ²¹ ʊk̚⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /foŋ¹¹ vuk̚²/ (Hakka, Sixian, Miaoli, Neipu, Sinological IPA) /paŋ²⁴⁻²² ɔk̚³²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) /paŋ²⁴⁻²² ɔk̚⁵/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Quanzhou) /paŋ¹³⁻²² ɔk̚³²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Zhangzhou) /paŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ ɔk̚³²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Taipei) /paŋ²³⁻³³ ɔk̚³²/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Kaohsiung) /fan¹¹ u²²/ (Xiang, Sinological IPA, Hengyang) |
|
| 家 | jiā | /t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /d͡ʑ̥i̯ä/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕia⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕia²¹/ (Mandarin, Xi'an, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕia³¹/ (Mandarin, Nanjing, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕia²⁴/ (Mandarin, Dungan, Sinological IPA) /kaː⁵⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /ka²¹³/ (Cantonese, Dongguan, Sinological IPA, Guancheng) /ka³³/ (Cantonese, Taishanese, Taicheng, Sinological IPA) /ka⁴²/ (Gan, Nanchang, Sinological IPA) /ka²⁴/ (Hakka, Sixian, Miaoli, Neipu, Sinological IPA) /ka⁵³/ (Hakka, Hailu, Zhudong, Sinological IPA) /ka⁴⁴/ (Hakka, Meixian, Sinological IPA) /ka³³/ (Hakka, Changting, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕia¹¹/ (Jin, Taiyuan, Sinological IPA, dated) /ka⁵⁴/ (Min Bei, Jian'ou, Sinological IPA) /ka⁵⁵/ (Min Dong, Fuzhou, Sinological IPA) /ke⁵³³/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Putian) /ke⁵⁴⁴/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Xianyou) /kɒ⁵³³/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Putian) /kɒ⁵⁴⁴/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Xianyou) /ka⁵³³/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Putian) /ka⁵⁴⁴/ (Puxian Min, Sinological IPA, Xianyou) /ke⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Sinological IPA, Taipei, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese) /ke³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /ka⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Sinological IPA, Taipei, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese) /ka³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese) /kiɛ³³⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Longyan, Longyan) /kia³³⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Longyan, Longyan) /kɛ⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Penang, Sinological IPA) /kɛ³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Penang, Sinological IPA) /kɛ⁵⁵/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Zhangpu, Penang, Sinological IPA) /ke³³/ (Teochew, Sinological IPA) /kia³³/ (Teochew, Sinological IPA) /kɛ³⁵/ (Leizhou, Sinological IPA) /kia³⁵/ (Leizhou, Sinological IPA) /ka⁵³/ (Southern Pinghua, Nanning, Southern Pinghua, Tingzi, Sinological IPA) /ka⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang) /ka⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Jiading) /kɑ⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Songjiang) /kɑ⁵⁵/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang) /kɑ⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang) /kɑ³³⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang) /ko⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Shaoxing) /ko⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /ko⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕia⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕia⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Jiading) /ciɑ⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Songjiang) /t͡ɕiɑ⁵⁵/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕiɑ⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕiɑ³³⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕia⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Shaoxing) /t͡ɕia⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕia⁵³/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Chongming, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Jiading, Songjiang, Shaoxing, Zhoushan, Zhoushan) /t͡ɕio⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Shaoxing, Shaoxing) /t͡ɕyo⁵²/ (Wu, Northern, Ningbo, Sinological IPA, Shaoxing) /kuɑ³³⁴/ (Wu, Jinhua, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕiɑ³³⁴/ (Wu, Jinhua, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕi̯a̠³³/ (Xiang, Changsha, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕi̯ɔ⁴⁴/ (Xiang, Loudi, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕi̯ä⁴⁴⁵/ (Xiang, Sinological IPA, Hengyang) /ka⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Tong'an, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Tainan, Yilan, Lukang, Penang, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Hsinchu) /ka³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Tong'an, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Tainan, Yilan, Lukang, Penang, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Hsinchu) /kai⁴¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines, Sinological IPA) /ka⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Sinological IPA) /kai⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Kinmen, Sinological IPA, Magong) /ka³³/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /ka³⁵/ (Min Nan, Leizhou, Sinological IPA) /kʰa³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Lukang, Sinological IPA) /kʰa⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Lukang, Sinological IPA) /kʰia⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Yilan, Taichung, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Hsinchu) /kʰia⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taiwan, variant, Sinological IPA, Taipei, Kaohsiung) /kʰia³³/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) /d͡ʑ̥i̯ɛ/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /ku⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /kuː⁵⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /ke⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Lukang, Tainan, Taichung, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Magong, Hsinchu) /ke³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Kaohsiung, Taipei, Lukang, Tainan, Taichung, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Magong, Hsinchu) /kɛ⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Zhangzhou, Sinological IPA) /ke³³/ (Min Nan, Teochew, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 房子 | fángzi | /fɑŋ³⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩³/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /faŋ²¹ t͡sɹ̩⁵³/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) /fã²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡si/ (Mandarin, Nanjing, Sinological IPA) /fɑŋ²⁴ t͡sɹ̩⁴⁴/ (Mandarin, Dungan, Sinological IPA) /fɔːŋ²¹ t͡siː³⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) /fɒ̃¹¹ t͡səʔ²/ (Jin, Taiyuan, Sinological IPA, dated) /vɑ̃²² t͡sɹ̩⁴⁴/ (Wu, Northern, Shanghai, Sinological IPA) /vɑ̃²² t͡sɹ̩³³/ (Wu, Northern, Suzhou, Sinological IPA) /vaŋ¹¹ t͡səʔ³³/ (Wu, Northern, Sinological IPA, Changzhou, Changzhou) |
|
| 屋子 | wūzi | /u⁵⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩²/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /vu²¹ t͡sɹ̩⁵³/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) /ʊk̚⁵ t͡siː³⁵/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
While there are many ways to say house, the most common way to refer to the concept of 'home' or one's household is 家. When speaking about the physical building or the concept of housing in a general sense, other terms are used.
Which one should you use?
The term 房子 refers specifically to the physical structure of a house. In contrast, 家 emphasizes the concept of home or family. For example, when asking someone where they live, it is more natural to use 家 than the physical building term 房子. For more technical or collective contexts, 房屋 is used to refer to buildings or housing generally.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southern China, specifically in Guangdong province and Hong Kong, the term 樓 is used to refer to multi-story buildings or apartments.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting houses or rooms, you must use a measure word such as 间 or 套 instead of the number alone.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is fángzi and the IPA is /fɑŋ³⁵ dz̥ɹ̩³/
Did you know?
- The word 家 for 'home' is a compound of the characters for 'roof' and 'pig'. In ancient China, a house was not considered a home unless it sheltered livestock.
- The term 家 is used as a measure word for businesses, such as shops or restaurants. This treats a commercial establishment as a 'household' of trade.
- The character 厂, found in the etymology of 厝, is a radical that literally depicts a 'cliff' or 'precipice', which provides a visual hint to its ancient meanings.
Examples in context
- 我家在這裡。My house is here.This sentence is useful for stating the location of your home using 家.Tatoeba #1275340 by egg0073, translation #1275336 by CM
- 你家在哪裡？Where is your house?This sentence is useful for asking the location of someone's home using 家.Tatoeba #1440409 by egg0073, translation #370706 by saeb
- 她家在哪儿？Where is her house?This sentence is useful for asking the location of someone else's home using 家.Tatoeba #1691786 by sadhen, translation #481895 by CK
- 我有一所房子。I have a house.
- 这是一座豪华住宅。This is a luxurious residence.
- 我住的房屋很小，但舒适。The house I live in is small but cozy.
- 471 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are talking about Zihan's new home.
- 梓涵 Zihan我想买一套新房子。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī tào xīn fángzi.I want to buy a new house.
- 俊杰 Junjie那套房子很大吗？Nà tào fángzi hěn dà ma?Is that house very big?
- 梓涵 Zihan房子不大，但是很舒服。Fángzi bù dà, dànshì hěn shūfu.The house isn't big, but it's very comfortable.
- 俊杰 Junjie听起来很不错，梓涵。Tīng qǐlái hěn bùcuò, Zǐhán.That sounds great, Zihan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “house” translations and entries 厝, 住宅, 房屋, 家, 房子, 屋子, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 厝, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
