ānjiā: 安家 - To Settle Down, Make a Home

• Keywords: an jia, anjia, 安家, settle down in Chinese, make a home in Chinese, set up a home Chinese, what does anjia mean, Chinese word for settling down, Chinese culture family, buying a house in China, 安家立业
• Summary: Learn the meaning of 安家 (ānjiā), a fundamental concept in Chinese culture that means “to settle down” or “make a home.” This page explores its deep connection to stability, marriage, and family responsibility, going far beyond the simple act of moving house. Discover how 安家 represents a major life goal for many Chinese people and how it differs from the Western idea of settling down.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): ānjiā
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To establish a home, settle down, and start a stable family life in a particular place.
• In a Nutshell: 安家 (ānjiā) is more than just finding a place to live; it's about putting down roots. It signifies a transition to a more stable, responsible phase of life, often associated with getting married, buying a home, and creating a secure environment for a family. It's a deeply positive and aspirational goal in Chinese society.

• 安 (ān): This character means “peaceful,” “safe,” or “secure.” The character is a pictogram of a woman (女) under a roof (宀), symbolizing the peace and security found within a home.
• 家 (jiā): This character means “home,” “family,” or “household.” The top part is a roof (宀), and the bottom part is a pig (豕). In ancient China, keeping a pig in the home was a sign of wealth and sustenance, so the character came to represent a domestic dwelling and the family within it.

When combined, 安家 (ānjiā) literally translates to “peaceful home” or “to secure a home.” This powerfully conveys the idea of establishing a stable, safe, and permanent family life, which is the core of its modern meaning.

In Chinese culture, 安家 (ānjiā) is not just a personal choice but a significant social milestone and a mark of maturity and success. It's the first part of a very famous four-character idiom: 安家立业 (ānjiā lìyè), which means “settle down and establish a career.” This phrase outlines the traditional and still highly valued path for a successful life: first, you create a stable home and family, and from that secure base, you build your career. This concept is deeply tied to the value of family and stability. For many, especially parents looking at their children's future, seeing them 安家 brings a profound sense of relief and pride. Homeownership is often seen as a prerequisite for a man to be considered a suitable partner for marriage, making the act of buying a house a critical step towards being able to 安家. Comparison to Western Culture: In Western, particularly American culture, “settling down” can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation of losing freedom, adventure, or youthfulness. It's often seen as one of many possible life paths. In contrast, 安家 in Chinese culture is almost universally viewed as a positive, necessary, and desirable achievement. It is less about giving up freedom and more about fulfilling one's responsibility to their family and society, creating a foundation for the next generation. It is the beginning of “real life,” not the end of a fun one.

安家 (ānjiā) is a very common term in everyday conversation, especially among young adults, their parents, and real estate agents.

• Discussing Life Plans: Young people often talk about their plans to 安家 in a specific city after graduating or finding a good job. Parents frequently ask their adult children, “你打算什么时候安家?” (Nǐ dǎsuàn shénme shíhòu ānjiā? - When do you plan to settle down?).
• Real Estate: The term is heavily used in real estate advertising. Slogans might promise to help you 安家 in a new apartment complex, appealing to the deep-seated desire for a stable home.
• Immigration and Relocation: When someone moves to a new city or country, they will talk about the process of getting established and finally feeling like they have been able to 安家 there.

The connotation is overwhelmingly positive, signifying stability, security, and success. It is used in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 他毕业后决定在北京安家。
  • Pinyin: Tā bìyè hòu juédìng zài Běijīng ānjiā.
  • English: He decided to settle down and make a home in Beijing after graduating.
  • Analysis: This is a very common use case, linking a major life event (graduation) with the decision to put down roots in a specific city.
• Example 2:
  • 我们刚买了新房子，总算可以安家了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gāng mǎi le xīn fángzi, zǒngsuàn kěyǐ ānjiā le.
  • English: We just bought a new house, we can finally settle down.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly connects the act of buying a house with the feeling of being able to 安家. The word `总算 (zǒngsuàn)` adds a sense of relief and accomplishment.
• Example 3:
  • 很多年轻人觉得，只有先安家，才能立业。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén juéde, zhǐyǒu xiān ānjiā, cáinéng lìyè.
  • English: Many young people feel that only by first settling down can they then establish their career.
  • Analysis: This directly references the cultural concept of 安家立业 (ānjiā lìyè), showing its influence on modern thinking.
• Example 4:
  • 父母最大的心愿就是希望我早点安家。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ zuì dà de xīnyuàn jiùshì xīwàng wǒ zǎodiǎn ānjiā.
  • English: My parents' biggest wish is for me to settle down soon.
  • Analysis: This highlights the societal and familial pressure often associated with the concept of 安家.
• Example 5:
  • 这个城市的生活成本太高，安家不容易。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chéngshì de shēnghuó chéngběn tài gāo, ānjiā bù róngyì.
  • English: The cost of living in this city is too high, it's not easy to settle down.
  • Analysis: This shows the practical challenges, often financial, related to achieving the goal of 安家.
• Example 6:
  • 你们俩结婚这么久了，在哪儿安家了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐmen liǎ jiéhūn zhème jiǔ le, zài nǎr ānjiā le?
  • English: You two have been married for so long, where have you made your home?
  • Analysis: A common question asked between friends or relatives, linking marriage directly to the act of 安家.
• Example 7:
  • 他为了给家人一个稳定的生活，选择在小城市安家。
  • Pinyin: Tā wèile gěi jiārén yī ge wěndìng de shēnghuó, xuǎnzé zài xiǎo chéngshì ānjiā.
  • English: In order to give his family a stable life, he chose to settle down in a small city.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes the connection between 安家 and providing stability (`稳定`) for one's family.
• Example 8:
  • 这对来自国外的夫妇，花了五年时间才真正在上海安家。
  • Pinyin: Zhè duì láizì guówài de fūfù, huā le wǔ nián shíjiān cái zhēnzhèng zài Shànghǎi ānjiā.
  • English: This couple from overseas spent five years before they truly settled down in Shanghai.
  • Analysis: This illustrates that 安家 is a process, not just a single event, especially for immigrants or expatriates. It implies cultural and social integration.
• Example 9:
  • 公司为新员工提供了安家费，帮助他们在这里开始新生活。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī wèi xīn yuángōng tígōng le ānjiā fèi, bāngzhù tāmen zài zhèlǐ kāishǐ xīn shēnghuó.
  • English: The company provided a settling-in allowance for new employees to help them start their new life here.
  • Analysis: Shows a formal, corporate use of the term. `安家费 (ānjiā fèi)` is a relocation bonus.
• Example 10:
  • 无论走到哪里，有家人的地方，心才能安家。
  • Pinyin: Wúlùn zǒu dào nǎlǐ, yǒu jiārén de dìfang, xīn cáinéng ānjiā.
  • English: No matter where you go, only the place where your family is can your heart truly settle down.
  • Analysis: A more poetic and figurative use, emphasizing that 安家 is ultimately an emotional state of belonging, not just a physical location.

A very common mistake for learners is to confuse 安家 (ānjiā) with 搬家 (bānjiā).

• 安家 (ānjiā): To settle down, establish a permanent home. It's a long-term, emotional, and social process. It implies stability and permanence.
• 搬家 (bānjiā): To move house. This is the simple physical act of moving your belongings from one place to another. You can 搬家 many times without ever feeling like you've been able to 安家.

Example of Incorrect vs. Correct Usage:

• Incorrect: 我下个星期要安家到新公寓。 (Wǒ xià ge xīngqī yào ānjiā dào xīn gōngyù.)
• Why it's wrong: This sentence describes the simple act of moving next week. It's a short-term, physical action.
• Correct: 我下个星期要搬家到新公寓。 (Wǒ xià ge xīngqī yào bānjiā dào xīn gōngyù.)
• How to use 安家 correctly: 我希望能在这个新公寓里好好安家。 (Wǒ xīwàng néng zài zhège xīn gōngyù lǐ hǎohǎo ānjiā.) - “I hope I can settle down properly in this new apartment.” This expresses the long-term intention and feeling.

• 安家立业 (ānjiā lìyè) - The full idiom: “settle down and establish a career.” It represents the traditional path to a successful adult life.
• 搬家 (bānjiā) - The direct antonym in concept. The physical act of moving, as opposed to the emotional and social act of settling.
• 定居 (dìngjū) - To settle, to reside permanently. A more formal and neutral term than `安家`, often used in official contexts like immigration or census data. It lacks the warm, familial connotation of `安家`.
• 买房 (mǎifáng) - To buy a house. In modern China, this is often considered the most important first step to being able to `安家`.
• 结婚 (jiéhūn) - To get married. `安家` is very often associated with marriage, as one establishes a new family unit.
• 落户 (luòhù) - To get one's household registration (hukou) settled in a new place. This is the official, bureaucratic process of becoming a permanent resident of a Chinese city, a legal requirement for truly being able to `安家`.
• 稳定 (wěndìng) - Stable, steady. This is the core feeling and goal that `安家` is meant to achieve.
• 家庭 (jiātíng) - Family, household. The fundamental unit for which one `安家`.