zài jiā
à la maison
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我在家。
Wǒ zài jiā.
I am at home.
你在家吗？
Nǐ zài jiā ma?
Are you at home?
他/她在/它在家。
Tā zài jiā.
He/She/It is at home.
居 (jū)
reside
住 (zhù)
live
落户 (luòhù)
settle down
出门 (chū mén)
go out
在外 (zài wài)
outside
The Chinese word 在家 (zài jiā) is composed of two characters: 在 (zài) and 家 (jiā). The character 在 originally meant "to be in a place" or "to exist". It is composed of the radical 宀 (miàn), which represents a roof, and the character 止 (zhǐ), which means "to stop" or "to stand". Together, these characters convey the idea of being in a place and staying there. The character 家 (jiā) originally meant "house" or "family". It is composed of the radical 豕 (shǐ), which represents a pig, and the character 宀 (miàn), which represents a roof. Together, these characters convey the idea of a place where pigs are kept, which was often the home of a family in ancient China. Over time, the meaning of 在家 expanded to include the idea of "at home" or "in one's home". It can also be used to refer to the state of being unemployed or not working.
