house / family
N4- Onyomi
- カ・ケ
- Kunyomi
- いえ・うち
- Stroke count
- 10
- JLPT
- N4
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 家 down and you get 宀 (roof) — a roof stretched over the whole house. Picture a house under its roof, put 家 inside it, and let that scene stand for "house" — house / family. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 10
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は10画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 10 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
家
ie
house
家族
kazoku
family
専門家
senmonka
expert
家に行きます
ie ni ikimasu
to go to the house
家の近くです
ie no chikaku desu
near the house
家族と話します
kazoku to hanashimasu
to talk with the family
Example sentences (3)
家族と日本に住んでいます。
かぞく と にほん に すんでいます。
kazoku to nihon ni sundeimasu.
I live in Japan with my family.
私の家族は四人です。
わたし の かぞく は よにん です。
watashi no kazoku wa yonin desu.
There are four people in my family.
週末は家でゆっくり休みます。
しゅうまつ は いえ で ゆっくり やすみます。
shuumatsu wa ie de yukkuri yasumimasu.
On weekends I relax at home.