家具 in 30 Seconds
- 家具 (jiājù) is the standard Chinese word for 'furniture'.
- It is a noun typically used with the measure word '件' or '套'.
- It covers functional home items like beds, chairs, and tables.
- It does not include electronic appliances (which are '家电').
The term 家具 (jiājù) is a foundational noun in the Chinese language, primarily referring to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., chairs, stools, and sofas), eating (tables), and sleeping (beds). It also includes objects used to hold or storage items at a specific height above the ground, or to store things (e.g., cupboards, shelves, and drawers). Etymologically, the word is composed of two characters: 家 (jiā), meaning 'home' or 'family', and 具 (jù), meaning 'tool', 'device', or 'implement'. Together, they literally translate to 'home implements'.
- Primary Scope
- In modern Mandarin, 家具 covers everything from a simple wooden stool to a complex modular wardrobe system. It is used in both residential and commercial contexts (e.g., 办公家具 - office furniture).
- Materiality
- Historically, Chinese furniture is renowned for its use of hardwoods (红木) and sophisticated joinery, though modern 家具 can be made of metal, plastic, or composite materials.
- Conceptual Boundaries
- While 'furniture' in English is often an uncountable noun, 家具 in Chinese functions as a collective noun but is frequently quantified using specific measure words like '件' (jiàn) for individual pieces or '套' (tào) for sets.
"这套家具是实木做的，质量非常好。"
— Common real estate or interior design phrasing.
Furthermore, the term is often paired with specific descriptors to indicate style or origin, such as 中式家具 (Chinese-style furniture) or 欧式家具 (European-style furniture). In the digital age, 家具 also appears in gaming contexts like 'Animal Crossing' or 'The Sims', where players collect virtual items to decorate their spaces.
Using 家具 (jiājù) correctly requires an understanding of Chinese measure words and common verb pairings. Unlike English where you might say 'some furniture', Chinese requires specific classifiers depending on whether you are talking about a single item, a set, or a general collection.
- Measure Word: 件 (jiàn)
- Used for individual pieces of furniture.
Example: 一件家具 (One piece of furniture). - Measure Word: 套 (tào)
- Used for a suite or a set of furniture (e.g., a dining set).
Example: 一套家具 (A set of furniture). - Measure Word: 批 (pī)
- Used for a batch or shipment of furniture.
Example: 一批家具 (A batch of furniture).
Common Verb Pairings
- 搬 (bān): To move furniture (e.g., 搬家具).
- 买 (mǎi): To buy furniture (e.g., 买家具).
- 摆 (bǎi): To arrange/set out furniture (e.g., 摆放家具).
- 组装 (zǔzhuāng): To assemble furniture (e.g., 组装家具).
When describing the quality or material of 家具, the material usually precedes the noun. For example, 木制家具 (wooden furniture), 金属家具 (metal furniture), or 皮质家具 (leather furniture). If you are talking about the style, you might say 现代家具 (modern furniture) or 复古家具 (vintage furniture).
You will encounter the word 家具 (jiājù) in various daily life scenarios in China, ranging from commercial transactions to casual conversations about home improvement.
- 1. Retail and Shopping
- At places like 宜家 (Yíjiā - IKEA) or local 家具城 (jiājù chéng - furniture malls). You'll see signs for '红木家具' (Redwood furniture) or '办公家具' (Office furniture).
- 2. Real Estate and Renting
- When looking for an apartment, agents will tell you if the place is 带家具 (dài jiājù - furnished) or 不带家具 (bú dài jiājù - unfurnished).
- 3. Interior Design Media
- On apps like 小红书 (Little Red Book) or 好好住 (Hǎohǎo Zhù), influencers discuss '家具搭配' (furniture matching) and '极简家具' (minimalist furniture).
"房东说这间公寓是带家具出租的，我们不需要自己买了。"Translation: The landlord said this apartment is rented with furniture; we don't need to buy it ourselves.
While 家具 (jiājù) is a relatively straightforward noun, learners often make specific errors regarding its scope and grammatical usage.
- Mistake 1: Confusing Furniture with Appliances
- Learners often call a washing machine or a refrigerator '家具'.
Incorrect: 冰箱是一件很有用的家具。
Correct: 冰箱是一件很有用的家电 (jiādiàn). - Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Measure Word
- Using '个' (gè) for everything. While '一个家具' is sometimes understood in casual speech, '一件' is the standard and more professional classifier.
Avoid: 一个家具
Prefer: 一件家具 - Mistake 3: Mispronunciation of '具'
- The character '具' is 4th tone (jù). Learners sometimes pronounce it in the 1st or 2nd tone, which can sound like '居' (jū - reside) or '局' (jú - bureau).
Quick Correction Table
| Item | Category | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Table (桌子) | 家具 | Movable support object |
| TV (电视) | 家电 | Electronic appliance |
| Curtain (窗帘) | 家居用品 | Home textile/decor |
Understanding the synonyms and related terms for 家具 (jiājù) helps in distinguishing formal, informal, and technical registers.
- 家私 (jiāsī)
- Commonly used in Southern China (Cantonese influence) and Hong Kong/Taiwan. It is synonymous with 家具 but feels slightly more colloquial or traditional in those regions.
- 家居 (jiājū)
- A broader term meaning 'home living' or 'domestic'. It encompasses furniture, decor, lighting, and the overall lifestyle.
Example: 家居设计 (Home design). - 摆设 (bǎishe)
- Refers specifically to ornaments or decorative items that are 'set out' for display rather than functional use.
- 器物 (qìwù)
- A more formal or archaeological term for implements, tools, or vessels, often used when discussing ancient furniture.
Comparison: 家具 vs. 家居
家具 (Furniture)
Specific objects like beds and chairs.
家居 (Home/Living)
The whole environment, including curtains, rugs, and vibe.
How Formal Is It?
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Measure words for objects
Adjective + 的 + Noun
Verb + 掉 (resultative complement)
Existence sentences with '有' or '是'
Passive voice with '被'
Examples by Level
这是我的家具。
This is my furniture.
Simple 'Subject + 是 + Noun' structure.
我买家具。
I buy furniture.
Basic SVO structure.
家里有家具。
There is furniture in the house.
Existence sentence with '有'.
家具很漂亮。
The furniture is very pretty.
Adjective predicate with '很'.
我不喜欢旧家具。
I don't like old furniture.
Negative sentence with '不'.
这是什么家具？
What furniture is this?
Question with '什么'.
爸爸买新家具。
Dad buys new furniture.
Simple SVO with an adjective.
桌子是家具。
A table is furniture.
Categorization sentence.
我买了一件家具。
I bought a piece of furniture.
Using the measure word '件'.
这些家具很贵。
These pieces of furniture are expensive.
Using '这些' for plural 'these'.
我们要搬家具了。
We are going to move the furniture.
Using '要...了' for future action.
你的家具是什么颜色的？
What color is your furniture?
Asking about attributes.
房间里的家具很少。
There is very little furniture in the room.
Describing quantity.
我想买木头的家具。
I want to buy wooden furniture.
Describing material with '的'.
请帮我搬一下家具。
Please help me move the furniture for a bit.
Polite request with '请' and '一下'.
旧家具在那儿。
The old furniture is over there.
Locative sentence.
这套家具非常适合你的客厅。
This set of furniture is very suitable for your living room.
Using '套' for a set.
我在宜家买了一些组装家具。
I bought some flat-pack (assembly) furniture at IKEA.
Compound noun '组装家具'.
这些家具是用实木做的。
This furniture is made of solid wood.
Passive-like structure '用...做的'.
我们需要重新摆放一下家具。
We need to rearrange the furniture.
Verb '摆放' (to arrange).
这种家具既实用又美观。
This kind of furniture is both practical and beautiful.
Structure '既...又...'.
他打算卖掉那些旧家具。
He plans to sell off those old pieces of furniture.
Resultative complement '掉'.
家具的风格应该和装修一致。
The style of the furniture should be consistent with the renovation.
Using '一致' (consistent).
这件家具占了太大的空间。
This piece of furniture takes up too much space.
Verb '占' (to occupy/take up).
由于空间有限，我们选择了多功能家具。
Due to limited space, we chose multi-functional furniture.
Using '由于' to show cause.
这款家具的设计灵感来自大自然。
The design inspiration for this furniture comes from nature.
Complex subject with '设计灵感'.
现在的年轻人更倾向于购买简约风格的家具。
Young people nowadays are more inclined to buy minimalist style furniture.
Using '倾向于' (inclined to).
这种环保家具不含有害物质。
This eco-friendly furniture does not contain harmful substances.
Technical vocabulary '有害物质'.
家具的质量直接影响到生活品质。
The quality of furniture directly affects the quality of life.
Using '直接影响' (directly affects).
定制家具可以根据房间的尺寸来制作。
Custom furniture can be made according to the dimensions of the room.
Using '根据' (according to).
他专门收藏具有艺术价值的古董家具。
He specializes in collecting antique furniture with artistic value.
Using '具有' (to possess).
这批家具在运输过程中损坏了。
This batch of furniture was damaged during transportation.
Using '在...过程中' (during the process of).
明式家具以其简洁的线条和精湛的工艺著称。
Ming-style furniture is famous for its simple lines and exquisite craftsmanship.
Using '以...著称' (famous for).
这件家具展现了中国传统的榫卯结构。
This piece of furniture showcases the traditional Chinese mortise and tenon structure.
Using '展现' (to showcase).
随着审美观念的改变，复古家具再次流行起来。
With the change in aesthetic concepts, vintage furniture has become popular again.
Using '随着' (along with).
选购家具时，不仅要看外观，更要注重其耐用性。
When purchasing furniture, one should not only look at the appearance but also pay attention to its durability.
Using '不仅...更...' for emphasis.
高端家具品牌往往代表了一种生活态度。
High-end furniture brands often represent a lifestyle attitude.
Using '往往' (often/tend to).
家具的摆放位置在风水学中至关重要。
The placement of furniture is crucial in Feng Shui.
Using '至关重要' (crucial).
这套家具的色调与室内的采光相得益彰。
The color tone of this furniture set complements the indoor lighting perfectly.
Idiom '相得益彰' (complement each other).
这种材料被广泛应用于现代办公家具的制造。
This material is widely applied in the manufacturing of modern office furniture.
Passive structure '被...应用于'.
家具不仅是功能性的物件，更是承载文化记忆的载体。
Furniture is not just a functional object, but a carrier of cultural memory.
Using '承载' (to carry/bear).
古典家具的韵味在于其岁月的沉淀与历史的厚重感。
The charm of classical furniture lies in the accumulation of years and the sense of historical weight.
Using '在于' (lies in).
设计师试图通过这组家具探讨人与空间、自然之间的辩证关系。
The designer attempts to explore the dialectical relationship between humans, space, and nature through this set of furniture.
Using '辩证关系' (dialectical relationship).
在工业化大生产的冲击下，传统手工家具制作面临着传承的危机。
Under the impact of large-scale industrial production, traditional handmade furniture making faces a crisis of inheritance.
Using '在...冲击下' (under the impact of).
这件家具的造型极具张力，打破了传统审美的束缚。
The shape of this piece of furniture is extremely tense, breaking the shackles of traditional aesthetics.
Using '极具' (extremely possessing).
他撰写了一篇关于中国家具演变史的深度论文。
He wrote an in-depth thesis on the evolution history of Chinese furniture.
Formal academic vocabulary.
这种木材的稀缺性使得相关的红木家具成为了投资的热点。
The scarcity of this wood has made related redwood furniture a hot spot for investment.
Using '稀缺性' (scarcity).
家具的极简主义风格反映了现代人对简约生活的极致追求。
The minimalist style of furniture reflects modern people's ultimate pursuit of a simple life.
Using '极致追求' (ultimate pursuit).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
Modern furniture is often called '现代家具', traditional '传统家具'.
家具 can refer to the concept or specific items.
- Using '个' instead of '件'.
- Including the TV as '家具'.
- Pronouncing '具' as 1st tone.
- Confusing '家具' with '家居'.
- Forgetting to use '套' for a collection.
Tips
Learn specific items
Learn words like 沙发 (sofa) and 柜子 (cabinet) alongside 家具.
Master '件'
Always pair 家具 with '件' in your writing.
Redwood value
Understand that redwood is a status symbol in China.
Ask for assembly
Ask '包含组装吗？' (Does it include assembly?) when buying.
Style matters
Use '简约' (simple) or '豪华' (luxurious) to describe it.
Tone check
Make sure 'jù' is short and falling.
Real estate ads
Look for '家具齐全' (fully furnished) in apartment ads.
Measure word variety
Use '套' for dining sets or bedroom sets.
Context clues
If you hear '搬' (move), it's likely about 家具.
Association
Associate 家具 with the 'tools' of a 'home'.
Memorize It
Word Origin
Cultural Context
In the past, high-quality furniture was a standard part of a bride's dowry.
红木 (Hóngmù) is highly prized and seen as an investment.
The placement of the bed (床) and desk (书桌) is often calculated by experts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"你喜欢什么风格的家具？"
"你家里的家具多吗？"
"你觉得这件家具怎么样？"
"哪里买家具比较便宜？"
"你会自己组装家具吗？"
Journal Prompts
描述一下你理想中的家具风格。
如果你要搬家，你会带走哪件家具？为什么？
写一写你第一次去家具店买东西的经历。
你觉得家具的质量重要还是外观重要？
谈谈你对中国传统家具的看法。
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIn Chinese, you use measure words like 件 or 套 to count it.
It's understood but '一件家具' is much better.
No, a fridge is 家电 (home appliance).
Wood (木头) is the most traditional and common.
IKEA (宜家) or large Furniture Cities (家具城).
Yes, it's called 办公家具.
It's expensive, traditional redwood furniture.
带家具 (dài jiājù).
It is the 4th tone (jù).
Yes, 户外家具 (hùwài jiājù).
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Summary
家具 (jiājù) is an essential B1-level noun meaning 'furniture'. Remember to use '件' for single items and '套' for sets, and distinguish it from '家电' (appliances).
- 家具 (jiājù) is the standard Chinese word for 'furniture'.
- It is a noun typically used with the measure word '件' or '套'.
- It covers functional home items like beds, chairs, and tables.
- It does not include electronic appliances (which are '家电').
Learn specific items
Learn words like 沙发 (sofa) and 柜子 (cabinet) alongside 家具.
Master '件'
Always pair 家具 with '件' in your writing.
Redwood value
Understand that redwood is a status symbol in China.
Ask for assembly
Ask '包含组装吗？' (Does it include assembly?) when buying.
Example
我们刚搬了新家，需要买一些新家具。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More housing words
房租
B1The amount of money that you pay periodically to a landlord to live in a house or apartment.
公寓
B1A set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor and part of a larger building. A core term for housing-related tasks in IELTS Speaking.
装修
B1To renovate, decorate, or fit out a house or room with furniture, paint, etc.
居住
B1To live in a place for a long period of time. Often used in IELTS when discussing accommodation or urban living.
维修
B1To maintain and repair equipment, buildings, or machinery to keep them in good condition.
租赁
B1The act of renting or leasing property, equipment, or land for a period of time.
押金
B1A sum of money paid as a security deposit, to be returned when a contract ends or an item is returned.
搬家
B1To move from one’s residence to a new house. A common scenario in IELTS General Writing (notifying friends or companies about a new address).
