房間 / 房间
fángjiān
The English word 'room' is translated into Chinese as 房間 / 房间 (fángjiān). If unsure, use 房間 / 房间. Wiktionary also lists 屋子 (wūzi).
Meaning: division in a building (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 房間 / 房间 | fángjiān |
| 屋子 | wūzi |
Both 房間 / 房间 and 屋子 are used to refer to a division in a building. While 房間 / 房间 is the standard term for a room, 屋子 is a more colloquial term that can also refer to a small house or a dwelling.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 房間 / 房间 (fángjiān) is composed of 房 (fáng), meaning house or room and 間 (jiān), meaning space or interval.
Which one should you use?
房間 / 房间 is the standard and more formal term for a room. In contrast, 屋子 is more colloquial and is often used to refer to a physical room or even a small house or dwelling.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting rooms, the standard measure word to use is 間 (jiān), as seen in the phrase 一間房間 (one room).
How do you pronounce it?
fángjiān
Did you know?
- The character 間 in 房間 originally depicted a gate 門 with the sun 日 shining through it, representing a gap or a 'room' of light.
- If you use the word 间 (jiān) alone in a conversation, it can mean a room, but it can also mean 'a moment' or 'a short duration of time'.
- In traditional Chinese architecture, the concept of a 'room' is often more about the functional space defined by columns rather than just four walls.
Examples in context
- 我租了一間離這裡不遠的屋子。I've rented a room not far from here.This sentence is useful for describing renting a room with the form 屋子.Tatoeba #6309831 by verdastelo9604, translation #5851163 by CK
- 这间屋子的温度是不是有点高了？Isn't this room a bit too warm?This sentence is useful for asking about the temperature within a room with the form 屋子.Tatoeba #14042780 by KUI, translation #14042166 by CuteGirlLeia
- 这个屋子里满是烟雾。The room was full of smoke.This sentence is useful for describing the contents of a room with the form 屋子.Tatoeba #2518648 by fenfang557, translation #319566 by Eldad
- 请问，我想预订一个客房。Excuse me, I'd like to book a room.
- 我想问一下，这家酒店有多少个房间？May I ask how many rooms this hotel has?
- 我们去我的屋子吧！Let's go to my room!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “room” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
