Korean word

큰집

Pronunciation

Romanizationkeunjip

Meaning

  • nounfamily home

Example

설날에는 큰집에 모두 모여요.seol la re neun keun ji be mo du mo yeo yo

At Lunar New Year, everyone gathers at the family home.

Illustration for 큰집 (family home)

More examples

주말에 큰집에 들러 어머니와 이야기했어요.chu ma re keun ji be teul leo eo meo ni wa i ya gi hae sseo yo

I stopped by the family home and talked with my mother over the weekend.

Core concept

A central family home that represents the senior branch of a wider family, not necessarily the largest building.

Common phrases

  • 큰집에서 차례를 지내다keun ji be seo cha rye reul chi nae da

    perform ancestral rites at the family home

  • 큰집에 들르다keun ji be teul leu da

    stop by the family home

  • 큰집을 찾다keun ji beul chat tta

    visit the family home

Similar words

본가ponga: The original home of a bloodline, regarded as the family's ancestral base.
친가chinga: The home of a person's father's parents or paternal family.
외가oega: The home of a person's mother's parents or maternal family.
시댁sidaek: The home of a husband's parents or other members of his family.

Definition in Korean

여러 친척 집 가운데 집안의 본가를 이르는 말로, 물리적 크기보다 가계에서의 위계를 나타내는 표현임.yeo reo chin cheok chip ka un de chi ba nui pon ga reul i reu neun mal lo mul li jeok keu gi bo da ka gye e seo ui wi gye reul na ta nae neun pyo hyeo nim

Word origin

The word combines the Korean words for big and house, with big signaling senior status in the family line rather than physical size.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, the phrase can sound like a description of a large building, so remember that it usually points to family rank and the home connected with it.

Related words

Word lists with this word