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家乡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
家乡jiāxiānghometownHSK 4, n, rank #3987, Medium
家乡jiāxiāngnative placeHSK 4, n, rank #3987, Medium
家乡jiāxiāng>个[gè]HSK 4, n, rank #3987, Medium
jiāxiāng(jia1xiang1) T1
  1. 1hometown
  2. 2native place
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March 24, 2026
家乡(家鄉)jiāxiāng(jia1xiang1)

家乡 (jiāxiāng) refers to one's hometown or native place, the location where a person grew up or has deep personal connections. It is commonly used when discussing one's roots, family heritage, or nostalgic memories associated with that place.

Frequency#3987DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 家乡 is deeply tied to one's identity and family lineage, often celebrated in festivals or gatherings that honor local traditions and customs.

Memory Tip

Think of 家 (jiā) meaning 'home' and 乡 (xiāng) meaning 'village' or 'countryside'. Imagine a cozy home in a village where you feel a strong sense of belonging and nostalgia, connecting the sound 'jia' with 'home' and 'xiang' with 'countryside'.

Meanings of 家乡

jiāxiāng(jia1xiang1)
1hometown
2native place
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 家乡

家乡Simplified
家鄉Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3987Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 家乡

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Podcast: 家乡

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AI Study Notes for 家乡

Quick Contrast

故乡 (gùxiāng) - use 家乡 (jiāxiāng) for a more personal connection to one's hometown, while 故乡 (gùxiāng) can imply a broader, sometimes more nostalgic sense of one's native place.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 家 (jiā) meaning 'home' and 乡 (xiāng) meaning 'village' or 'countryside'. Imagine a cozy home in a village where you feel a strong sense of belonging and nostalgia, connecting the sound 'jia' with 'home' and 'xiang' with 'countryside'.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 家乡 with 祖国 (zǔguó), which means 'motherland' and has a broader national connotation. 家乡 is more personal and specific. It is typically used in informal conversations or narratives about one's past.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 家乡 connects to other personal and geographical terms you may encounter, such as 乡村 (xiāngcūn, village) and 故乡 (gùxiāng, hometown). Focus on using it in sentences that express nostalgia or identity.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 家乡 is deeply tied to one's identity and family lineage, often celebrated in festivals or gatherings that honor local traditions and customs.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 家乡 with 乡村 (xiāngcūn), which specifically means 'countryside' and doesn't carry the same personal connection. Remember, 家乡 is about where you feel at home, not just the rural aspect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 家乡

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Component Characters

jiāhome
HSK 110 strokes
View full entry
xiāngcountry or countryside
HSK 53 strokes
View full entry

Write 家乡

Practice writing 家乡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 家乡

家乡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

对她来说,离开____很不容易。

For her, leaving her hometown is not easy.

Example Sentences for 家乡 (10)

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1
流亡者被切断了与家乡的所有联系。

liú wáng zhě bèi qiē duàn le yǔ jiā xiāng de suǒ yǒu lián xì。

The exiles had been cut off from all contact with their homeland.
2
总统坐火车回到了他的家乡。

zǒng tǒng zuò huǒ chē huí dào le tā de jiā xiāng。

The president traveled by rail to his home town.
3
他已经搬回了自己的家乡迈阿密。

tā yǐ jīng bān huí le zì jǐ de jiā xiāng mài ā mì。

He has moved back to his home town of Miami.
4
米兰既是克拉克西先生的家乡,也是他的权力基础。

mǐ lán jì shì kè lā kè xī xiān shēng de jiā xiāng, , yě shì tā de quán lì jī。

Milan was Mr Craxi's home town and his power base.
5
我的家乡是一九四九年春解放的.

wǒ de jiā xiāng shì yī jiǔ sì jiǔ nián chūn jiě fàng de.

My home town was liberated in the spring of
6
冬天时,我家乡的气温向来都在零度以下.

dōng tiān shí, , wǒ jiā xiāng de qì wēn xiàng lái dū zài líng dù yǐ.

In my hometown temperatures in winter never rise above zero.
7
你不只是背着吉他艰难地从一家乡村俱乐部转到另一家。

nǐ bù zhī shì bèi zháo jí tā jiān nán dì cóng yī jiā xiāng cūn jù lè bù zhuǎn dào lìng yī jiā。

You didn't just schlep your guitar around from folk club to folk club.
8
他常常梦到家乡.

tā cháng cháng mèng dào jiā xiāng.

He often dreams about home.
9
她家乡哥伦比亚城离得不算远.她甚至还去过一趟芝加哥.

tā jiā xiāng gē lún bǐ yà chéng lí dé bù suàn yuǎn. . tā shèn zhì huán qù guò yī tàng zhī jiā.

Columbia City was not so very far away, even once she was in Chicago.
10
他把家乡的那栋房屋保留着.

tā bǎ jiā xiāng de nà dòng fáng wū bǎo liú zháo.

He is keeping on the house in his hometown.

Cultural Notes for 家乡

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 家乡 is deeply tied to one's identity and family lineage, often celebrated in festivals or gatherings that honor local traditions and customs.

Frequently Asked Questions about 家乡

You can say, '我来自我的家乡' (Wǒ láizì wǒ de jiāxiāng), meaning 'I come from my hometown.'