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March 24, 2026
家常jiācháng(jia1chang2)
家常 (jiācháng) refers to the daily life and routines of a family, often encapsulating the essence of home-cooked meals, family gatherings, and everyday activities. This term emphasizes the comfort and familiarity of domestic life, reflecting the values of family unity and tradition in Chinese culture.
Frequency#24671DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 家常 is deeply tied to the importance of family meals, which are seen as opportunities to strengthen family bonds and pass down traditions. Celebrations and festivals often revolve around family gatherings that emphasize home-cooked meals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a cozy home where every meal is made with love. The character 家 (jiā) represents a house, and 常 (cháng) means 'often' or 'frequently.' Picture a family gathered around the dining table, sharing their daily stories—this is the essence of 家常.
Meanings of 家常
jiācháng(jia1chang2)
1the daily life of a family
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 家常
家常Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#24671Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 家常
Podcast: 家常
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AI Study Notes for 家常
Quick Contrast
家常 (jiācháng) vs 家庭 (jiātíng) — use 家常 for daily routines and home-cooked meals, while 家庭 refers specifically to the family unit itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a cozy home where every meal is made with love. The character 家 (jiā) represents a house, and 常 (cháng) means 'often' or 'frequently.' Picture a family gathered around the dining table, sharing their daily stories—this is the essence of 家常.
Usage Notes
家常 is typically used in informal contexts when discussing home life or family meals. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar phrases like 家庭 (jiātíng), which means 'family' in a broader sense. Common collocations include 家常菜 (home-cooked dishes) and 家常话 (talks at home).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 term, 家常 connects with other vocabulary related to family and daily routines, such as 生活 (shēnghuó - life) and 家 (jiā - home). Focus on using it in context, particularly in discussions about domestic life and family traditions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 家常 is deeply tied to the importance of family meals, which are seen as opportunities to strengthen family bonds and pass down traditions. Celebrations and festivals often revolve around family gatherings that emphasize home-cooked meals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 家常 with 家庭 (jiātíng), mistakenly using 家常 to refer to family as a whole. For example, saying '家常是很重要的' (Jiācháng shì hěn zhòngyào de) instead of '家庭是很重要的' (Jiātíng shì hěn zhòngyào de) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 家常
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Grammar Patterns of 家常
家常 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). 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
母亲给她吃易饱的____菜,她想减掉婴儿肥可是很难.
It wasn't easy to lose puppy fat when Mum fed her on stodgy home cooking.
Example Sentences for 家常 (3)
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1
母亲给她吃易饱的家常菜,她想减掉婴儿肥可是很难.
mǔ qīn gěi tā chī yì bǎo de jiā cháng cài, , tā xiǎng jiǎn diào yīng ér féi kě shì hěn.
It wasn't easy to lose puppy fat when Mum fed her on stodgy home cooking.
2
她一生的历史,完全被罪恶所染黑了; 在种种罪恶之中,杀人是她的家常便饭.
tā yī shēng de lì shǐ, , wán quán bèi zuì è suǒ rǎn hēi; le ; zài zhǒng zhǒng zuì è, zhī zhōng , shā rén shì tā de jiā.
All her history was black with crime; and among her crimes murder was common.
We also have French fried, home fried and lyonnaised.
Cultural Notes for 家常
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 家常 is deeply tied to the importance of family meals, which are seen as opportunities to strengthen family bonds and pass down traditions. Celebrations and festivals often revolve around family gatherings that emphasize home-cooked meals.
Frequently Asked Questions about 家常
You can say, '我喜欢吃家常菜' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī jiācháng cài), meaning 'I like to eat home-cooked dishes.'
No, while it often relates to meals, it can also refer to any aspect of daily family life.
Synonyms include 日常 (rìcháng - daily) and 平常 (píngcháng - ordinary).
