Chinese word

家务

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiā wù

Meaning

  • nounhousework

Example

今天我做了很多家务。jīn tiān wǒ zuò le hěn duō jiā wù

Today I did a lot of housework.

Illustration for 家务 (housework)

More examples

孩子应该学会做家务。hái zi yīng gāi xué huì zuò jiā wù

Children should learn to do housework.

Core concept

A collection of routine duties that supports life within a household.

Common phrases

  • 做家务zuò jiā wù

    do housework

  • 分担家务fēn dān jiā wù

    share housework

  • 帮父母做家务bāng fù mǔ zuò jiā wù

    help one's parents do housework

Similar words

家事jiā shì: Household duties that support daily family life and keep the home running.
家务活jiā wù huó: Small, everyday jobs done around the home, including useful chores and tasks.

Definition in Chinese

在家庭中为维持日常生活而进行的劳动和事务，通常指打扫、做饭、洗衣、整理等具体家务活动。zài jiā tíng zhōng wèi wéi chí rì cháng shēng huó ér jìn xíng de láo dòng hé shì wù tōng cháng zhǐ dá sǎo zuò fàn xǐ yī zhéng lǐ děng jù tǐ jiā wù huó dòng

Word origin

The compound 家 (jiā, "home") + 务 (wù, "duty") joins the setting of family life with the work required there, giving the word its household-work meaning.

Usage tips

  • This noun is usually treated as an uncountable activity, so amounts are commonly expressed with 很多 (hěn duō, "a lot of") or 一些 (yìxiē, "some") rather than with an English-style plural.

Opposites

Related words

  • 家务活jiā wù huóhousehold choresnoun
  • 家务事jiā wù shìhousehold choresnoun

Word lists with this word