Meaning

Primary

House

Alternative

Home

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

The kanji and the word are exactly the same. That means they share meanings as well.

Reading

いえ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)
うち
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it probably uses the kun'yomi reading. You learned this reading with the kanji. But there's a second reading you haven't learned yet, so here's a mnemonic for both:

What do you do in your house? You eat eggs (いえ). You love to eat eggs at home. But it has to be on the (うち), a.k.a. the inside, of your house. For some reason you can only eat eggs in the of your house.

Both readings relate to house and home, but いえ is a bit more for the physical building (the house) while うち is more for your personal sense of home, including your family and household.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 家がならぶ

    houses are lined up

    家ができる

    a home is constructed

    家がある

    to have a house

Context Sentences

私の家は東京にあります。

My house is in Tokyo.

アメリカでは中古の家がとても人気です。

Secondhand houses are very popular in the United States.

すいません、まだ家を出てないんです。

Sorry, I haven't left home yet.

Kanji Composition