jiājù: 家具 - Furniture, Furnishings

• Keywords: jiaju, 家具, furniture in Chinese, what is jiaju, Chinese word for furniture, how to say furniture in Mandarin, Chinese home goods, buy furniture in China, Chinese household items, HSK 3 vocabulary.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 家具 (jiājù), the essential Chinese word for furniture and furnishings. This guide goes beyond a simple definition, exploring the cultural significance of traditional pieces, the modern influence of brands like IKEA in China, and practical tips for everyday use. Learn how to talk about buying, arranging, and describing furniture in Mandarin, from a single chair to a complete set for your home.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiā jù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: The movable articles, such as tables, chairs, and beds, that are used to make a room or building suitable for living or working.
• In a Nutshell: 家具 (jiājù) is the general, all-purpose word for the “stuff” you put inside a house to make it a home. Think tables, chairs, beds, closets, and shelves. It's a straightforward and practical noun that covers almost everything you would find in a furniture store.

• 家 (jiā): This character means “home,” “family,” or “house.” The top part (宀) is a radical representing a roof, and the bottom part (豕) is an ancient character for a pig. In ancient China, a pig in the house was a sign of prosperity and domesticity, so the character literally represents a “pig under a roof”—a home.
• 具 (jù): This character means “tool,” “implement,” or “utensil.” It signifies an object designed for a specific purpose or function.
• When combined, 家具 (jiājù) literally translates to “home tools” or “implements for the home,” a very logical and descriptive name for furniture.

The concept of 家具 (jiājù) in China has a rich history that contrasts sharply with its modern reality. Traditionally, Chinese furniture was a symbol of status, artistry, and heritage. Made from precious hardwoods like rosewood (红木 hóngmù), Ming and Qing dynasty furniture is globally renowned for its elegant lines, intricate joinery (often without nails), and deep symbolic meaning. These were not just functional items but family heirlooms passed down through generations. In contrast, the concept of home in the West is often more centered on individual comfort and changing aesthetic trends. While heirloom furniture exists, there's a stronger culture of disposable, trend-based furniture. A unique Chinese cultural element related to furniture is 风水 (fēngshuǐ). The placement of 家具—especially the bed, desk, and stove—is considered crucial for the flow of energy (气 qì) and can impact health, wealth, and relationships. This is a much deeper consideration than Western interior design, which focuses primarily on aesthetics and functionality. Today, with rapid urbanization and smaller city apartments, there's a massive market for modern, space-saving, and affordable 家具. The wild popularity of 宜家 (Yíjiā) - IKEA in China reflects this shift. For many young Chinese people, furniture is no longer about ancestral heritage but about expressing modern, individual lifestyles in a practical way.

家具 (jiājù) is a common, neutral term used in everyday life.

• Shopping: You'll frequently use this word when shopping for your home. A furniture store is a 家具店 (jiājùdiàn), and buying furniture is 买家具 (mǎi jiājù).
• Moving House: When moving (搬家 bānjiā), a major topic of conversation is how to move all the 家具.
• Describing a Home: It's used to describe the contents of a room, such as “this room doesn't have much furniture” (这个房间里没什么家具 zhège fángjiān lǐ méishénme jiājù).
• Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in any context, from a casual chat with friends to a formal discussion with an interior designer. It has no strong positive or negative connotations.

• Example 1:
  • 我们这个周末要去买新家具。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhège zhōumò yào qù mǎi xīn jiājù.
  • English: We are going to buy new furniture this weekend.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical sentence for planning household shopping.
• Example 2:
  • 这套家具的设计很现代。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tào jiājù de shèjì hěn xiàndài.
  • English: The design of this set of furniture is very modern.
  • Analysis: Note the use of the measure word 套 (tào), which means “set.” This is used for furniture that comes in a coordinated collection (e.g., a matching bedroom set).
• Example 3:
  • 搬家的时候，搬家具是最累的。
  • Pinyin: Bānjiā de shíhòu, bān jiājù shì zuì lèi de.
  • English: When moving house, moving the furniture is the most tiring part.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects 家具 to the common activity of moving (搬家 bānjiā).
• Example 4:
  • 我喜欢实木家具，感觉质量更好。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān shímù jiājù, gǎnjué zhìliàng gèng hǎo.
  • English: I like solid wood furniture; I feel the quality is better.
  • Analysis: Introduces the useful term 实木 (shímù), meaning “solid wood,” a key quality distinction when buying furniture.
• Example 5:
  • 这只是一件家具，不是全部。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǐshì yī jiàn jiājù, bùshì quánbù.
  • English: This is just one piece of furniture, not all of it.
  • Analysis: This highlights the most common measure word for a single item of furniture: 件 (jiàn).
• Example 6:
  • 宜家的家具需要自己组装。
  • Pinyin: Yíjiā de jiājù xūyào zìjǐ zǔzhuāng.
  • English: IKEA's furniture needs to be self-assembled.
  • Analysis: A culturally relevant example for anyone familiar with modern life in China. 组装 (zǔzhuāng) means “to assemble.”
• Example 7:
  • 你觉得这间卧室还需要添置什么家具吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juédé zhè jiān wòshì hái xūyào tiānzhì shénme jiājù ma?
  • English: Do you think this bedroom needs any more furniture added?
  • Analysis: 添置 (tiānzhì) is a slightly more formal verb for “to add” or “to purchase and place” new items for a home.
• Example 8:
  • 我奶奶留下了一些古董家具。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ nǎinai liú xiàle yīxiē gǔdǒng jiājù.
  • English: My grandmother left behind some antique furniture.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 古董 (gǔdǒng), meaning “antique,” to talk about older, valuable furniture.
• Example 9:
  • 他是做家具生意的。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì zuò jiājù shēngyì de.
  • English: He is in the furniture business.
  • Analysis: Shows how 家具 can be used in a business or professional context.
• Example 10:
  • 摆放家具的时候，要考虑一下风水。
  • Pinyin: Bǎifàng jiājù de shíhòu, yào kǎolǜ yīxià fēngshuǐ.
  • English: When placing the furniture, you should consider the Feng Shui.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly links the word to the important cultural concept of 风水 (fēngshuǐ).

• Furniture vs. Appliances: This is the most common mistake for learners. 家具 (jiājù) refers to non-electric items like tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets. Electrical items like refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines are called 家电 (jiādiàn), which literally means “home electricity.”
  • Incorrect: 我的新冰箱是很好的家具。 (Wǒ de xīn bīngxiāng shì hěn hǎo de jiājù.)
  • Correct: 我的新冰箱是很好的家电。 (Wǒ de xīn bīngxiāng shì hěn hǎo de jiādiàn.)
• Using Measure Words: In English, “furniture” is an uncountable noun. You say “a piece of furniture,” not “a furniture.” Chinese uses measure words in a similar way. You must use a measure word to count furniture.
  • The most common for a single item is 件 (jiàn).
  • For a matching set, use 套 (tào).
  • Incorrect: 我买了一个家具。 (Wǒ mǎile yīgè jiājù.)
  • Correct: 我买了一件家具。 (Wǒ mǎile yī jiàn jiājù.) - I bought one piece of furniture.
  • Correct: 我买了一套家具。 (Wǒ mǎile yī tào jiājù.) - I bought one set of furniture.

• 家电 (jiādiàn) - Home appliances. The crucial distinction from 家具 for electrical goods.
• 沙发 (shāfā) - Sofa/couch. A loanword and a specific type of 家具.
• 桌子 (zhuōzi) - Table. A very common piece of 家具.
• 椅子 (yǐzi) - Chair. Another fundamental piece of 家具.
• 床 (chuáng) - Bed. An essential piece of bedroom 家具.
• 装修 (zhuāngxiū) - To decorate or renovate a house, an activity that almost always involves buying new 家具.
• 红木 (hóngmù) - Rosewood/mahogany. A valuable material closely associated with high-quality, traditional Chinese 家具.
• 风水 (fēngshuǐ) - Feng Shui. The traditional practice of arranging spaces, including the placement of 家具, to create harmony and good fortune.
• 宜家 (Yíjiā) - IKEA. The transliterated name for the Swedish furniture giant, hugely influential on modern 家具 trends in China.