家 — Kanji Reference

家 (house, family): 10 strokes, JLPT N5. On: カ、ケ. Kun: いえ、や.

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家

Property Value
Meaning house, family
Strokes 10
JLPT Level N5
On-reading (音読み) カ、ケ
Kun-reading (訓読み) いえ、や
Radical 宀 (u-kanmuri / roof) [U+5B80]

Stroke Order

The kanji 家 follows the standard rules of top-to-bottom and left-to-right.

  1. Dot (top center)
  2. Dot (top right)
  3. Horizontal/Vertical hook (the roof)
  4. Dot (inside the roof)
  5. Horizontal (the start of the pig/animal component)
  6. Vertical
  7. Horizontal
  8. Diagonal left
  9. Diagonal right
  10. Dot (the final tail)

Radical Analysis

The radical is 宀 (u-kanmuri), which represents a roof. The bottom part is 豕 (shi), which is an ancient pictograph of a pig. Etymology: In ancient Chinese culture, a house was considered a place where humans lived together with their livestock (pigs) for warmth and security. Thus, a "roof" over a "pig" became the character for "house" or "family."

Mnemonic

Imagine a roof (宀) protecting a pig (豕). The pig is the "family pet" that lives inside the house. If you see a roof with a pig underneath, you know it’s a 家 (house/family).

On-readings (音読み) with Examples

カ (KA)

Word Reading Romaji English
家族 かぞく kazoku family
作家 さっか sakka author/writer
大家 おおや ooya landlord

ケ (KE)

Word Reading Romaji English
家来 けらい kerai retainer/servant
家事 かじ kaji housework

Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples

いえ (ie)

Word Reading Romaji English
家 いえ ie house
我が家 わがや wagaya my home

や (ya)

Word Reading Romaji English
八百屋 やおや yaoya greengrocer
貸家 かしや kashiya house for rent

JLPT N5 Words Using 家

Word Reading Romaji English JLPT
家 いえ ie house N5
家族 かぞく kazoku family N5
大家さん おおやさん ooyasan landlord N4
作家 さっか sakka writer N4
家内 かない kanai my wife N4
家賃 やちん yachin rent N3
家事 かじ kaji housework N3
帰宅 きたく kitaku returning home N3

Example Sentences

Japanese Reading Romaji English
私の家は大きいです。 わたしのいえはおおきいです。 Watashi no ie wa ookii desu. My house is big.
家族と住んでいます。 かぞくとすんでいます。 Kazoku to sunde imasu. I live with my family.
彼は有名な作家です。 かれはゆうめいなさっかです。 Kare wa yuumei na sakka desu. He is a famous writer.
家賃は毎月払います。 やちんはまいつきはらいます。 Yachin wa maitsuki haraimasu. I pay rent every month.
家事は大変です。 かじはたいへんです。 Kaji wa taihen desu. Housework is tough.
早く家に帰りたい。 はやくいえにかえりたい。 Hayaku ie ni kaeritai. I want to go home early.

Common Confusion Pairs

Kanji Reading Meaning How to distinguish
家 いえ House Has the "pig" (豕) component at the bottom.
嫁 よめ Bride Has the "woman" (女) radical on the left.
塚 つか Mound/Hill Has the "earth" (土) radical on the left.

Usage Frequency Note

家 is one of the most fundamental kanji in the Japanese language. It appears in almost every level of daily conversation and writing. Whether referring to one's physical residence (ie) or one's family unit (kazoku), it is an essential character for any learner to master early on. It is used in both formal business contexts (e.g., kaji - housework) and casual daily life.