Meaning

Primary

House

Alternative

Home

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.

Reading

いえ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)
うち
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it probably uses the kun'yomi reading. You learned this reading with the kanji. But there's a second reading you haven't learned yet, so here's a mnemonic for both:

What do you do in your house? You eat eggs (いえ). You love to eat eggs at home. But it has to be on the 内 (うち), a.k.a. the inside, of your house. For some reason you can only eat eggs in the 内 of your house.

Both readings relate to house and home, but いえ is a bit more for the physical building (the house) while うち is more for your personal sense of home, including your family and household.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 家がならぶ

    houses are lined up

    家がある

    to have a house

    家ができる

    a home is constructed

Context Sentences

私の家は山の近くにあります。

My house is near a mountain.

アメリカでは中古の家がとても人気です。

Secondhand houses are very popular in the United States.

すいません、まだ家を出てないんです。

Sorry, I haven't left home yet.

Kanji Composition