The word '宅子' refers to a private residence, emphasizing its structure as a complete estate or courtyard house.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A private house, often featuring a courtyard or substantial scale.
- Commonly used to describe traditional or ancestral residences.
- Informal to neutral register, frequently found in literature and dialects.
**概览**
“宅子”是一个富有生活气息和画面感的词汇，主要指代私人居住的房屋，且通常暗示这所房屋有一定的规模或带有院落。在现代汉语中，它比“房子”听起来更具象，也更传统。 2) 用法特点： 该词常与量词“所”、“座”或“处”连用。在北方方言或文学作品中，它常被用来形容祖传的老屋或深宅大院。 3) 常见语境： 它可以用于描述历史古迹（如“王家大宅”）、农村的独栋院落，或者在非正式谈话中指代某人的家产。 4) 词义辨析： 与“房子”相比，“宅子”更强调“宅院”的整体性；与“住宅”相比，“宅子”更口语化，且带有一种私人领地的色彩；与“府邸”相比，“宅子”的使用范围更广，不仅限于高官显贵，普通人家规模较大的住所也可以称为宅子。
Examples
这座老宅子已经有上百年的历史了。
descriptiveThis old mansion has a history of over a hundred years.
他家在城里有几处宅子，家境很殷实。
informalHis family owns several properties in the city; they are quite wealthy.
这宅子修得真气派！
exclamatoryThis residence is built so grandly!
他整天待在宅子里，很少出门。
everydayHe stays in his house all day and rarely goes out.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
祖传老宅
ancestral home
豪门大宅
wealthy family's mansion
Often Confused With
'住宅' is a formal, technical term for residential housing (like in real estate), while '宅子' is more colloquial and evocative.
'府邸' is specifically for high officials or royalty, whereas '宅子' can be used for any substantial private home.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word '宅子' is neutral in register but leans toward informal or literary usage. It sounds more traditional and grounded than the generic '房子'. In Northern China, it is a very common way to refer to one's home if it's a standalone house.
Common Mistakes
Do not use '宅子' to refer to a single room or a small unit in a high-rise building. It is also inappropriate for commercial buildings like shopping malls or factories.
Tips
Use for Traditional or Spacious Houses
Use '宅子' when you want to emphasize that a house is more than just a roof, especially if it has a yard or historical value.
Avoid for Modern High-rise Apartments
Calling a small 20th-floor apartment a '宅子' would sound strange and slightly humorous to native speakers.
The Concept of 'Zhai' in Culture
In Chinese culture, a '宅子' is often linked to family heritage and Feng Shui, representing the status and history of a lineage.
Word Origin
'宅' (zhái) originally meant a place where one settles or resides. '子' is a common suffix in Mandarin that turns roots into nouns for easier pronunciation.
Cultural Context
In ancient China, the size and layout of a '宅子' were strictly regulated by the social hierarchy. Today, it evokes a sense of nostalgia for traditional courtyard living.
Memory Tip
Visualize the character '宅' (zhái) as a roof over a space. Adding '子' makes it a tangible, physical object—a house you can walk around in.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions在大多数情况下可以，但“宅子”通常指带院子的独立建筑，而“房子”是所有建筑物的通用称呼。如果你住的是公寓楼，通常不会称其为“宅子”。
在描述现代公寓时较少使用，但在谈论别墅、老家旧宅或四合院时，使用“宅子”会显得非常地道。
它是一个中性词，但在特定语境下，如“祖传的宅子”，会带有一种对家族根基的尊重或怀念感。
字面上是一样的，都指“住所”。但“宅男/宅女”中的“宅”被用作动词或形容词，意为“待在家里不出门”，而“宅子”纯粹指物理上的建筑。
Test Yourself
他在乡下买了一所带花园的大___，打算退休后去住。
“宅子”最适合描述带花园的私人独立住所。
哪个选项最地道？
“祖传的宅子”是描述家族传承房产的经典搭配。
这/老/是/一所/宅子/祖辈/传下来的
标准的形容词和量词排序。
Score: /3
Summary
The word '宅子' refers to a private residence, emphasizing its structure as a complete estate or courtyard house.
- A private house, often featuring a courtyard or substantial scale.
- Commonly used to describe traditional or ancestral residences.
- Informal to neutral register, frequently found in literature and dialects.
Use for Traditional or Spacious Houses
Use '宅子' when you want to emphasize that a house is more than just a roof, especially if it has a yard or historical value.
Avoid for Modern High-rise Apartments
Calling a small 20th-floor apartment a '宅子' would sound strange and slightly humorous to native speakers.
The Concept of 'Zhai' in Culture
In Chinese culture, a '宅子' is often linked to family heritage and Feng Shui, representing the status and history of a lineage.
Examples
4 of 4这座老宅子已经有上百年的历史了。
This old mansion has a history of over a hundred years.
他家在城里有几处宅子，家境很殷实。
His family owns several properties in the city; they are quite wealthy.
这宅子修得真气派！
This residence is built so grandly!
他整天待在宅子里，很少出门。
He stays in his house all day and rarely goes out.
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