客廳 / 客厅
kètīng
In Chinese, the English phrase "living room" is translated as 客廳 / 客厅 (kètīng). If unsure, use 客廳 / 客厅. Wiktionary also lists 起居室 (qǐjūshì).
Meaning: room in a private house (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 客廳 / 客厅 | kètīng |
| 起居室 | qǐjūshì |
The phrase refers to a room in a private house.
What does it mean word for word?
The common term 客廳 is composed of 客 (guest) and 廳 (hall/large room). The term 起居室 literally translates to a room for "rising and sitting" (daily activities).
Which one should you use?
客廳 (kètīng) is the most common way to refer to a living room in daily conversation. 起居室 (qǐjūshì) is a more formal or technical term, often used in architectural contexts or formal writing.
How do you pronounce it?
kètīng
Did you know?
- The character 廳 originally referred to a public office or a court of law, showing that the 'living room' was historically viewed as a formal hall for receiving people.
- The word 客 in 客廳 means 'guest', reflecting a cultural tradition where the living room is primarily a space designed for receiving visitors rather than for the family's private relaxation.
- The character 客 is also the root of the word 客氣, which describes the polite but distant behavior one typically displays toward others in a 客廳.
Examples in context
- 汤姆在起居室里。Tom is in the living room.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 起居室.Tatoeba #7767743 by jiangche, translation #3410703 by CK
- 我会在客厅等你。I will wait for you in the living room.
- 她在起居室看电视。She watches TV in the living room.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “living room” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
