noun HSK 2
Traditional 家裡
at home · in the home · family members
Meaning
家里 literally means 'inside the home' and is used to refer to one's home as a location or the people in one's family. It combines 家 (home/family) with 里 (inside). This is one of the most common ways to say 'at home' in Mandarin Chinese.
Usage
Native speakers use 家里 to indicate being at one's own home or someone else's home. It can also refer to family members collectively, as in '家里人' (family members). The word is neutral in register and used in both spoken and written Chinese. Common patterns include '在家里' (to be at home) and '回家里' (to return home).
Examples
- 01我今天在家里工作。.I'm working at home today.
- 02家里人都很支持我的决定。.My family members all support my decision.
Characters
Common collocations
- 在家里at home
- 家里人family members
- 回家里return home
- 家里的事family matters, household affairs
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines the ancient pictograph 家 (originally showing a pig under a roof, representing household) with 里, a common locative particle meaning 'inside' or 'within'.