Chinese word

管家

Pronunciation

Pinyinguǎn jiā

Meaning

  • nounbutler

Example

他们家的管家每天早上先准备早餐。tā men jiā de guǎn jiā měi tiān zǎo shàng xiān zhǔn bèi zǎo cān

Their butler prepares breakfast first every morning.

Illustration for 管家 (butler)

More examples

许多别墅都配备了专业管家。xǔ duō bié shù dōu pèi bèi le zhuān yè guǎn jiā

Many villas have professional butlers.

Core concept

A household manager who coordinates the people, routines, and practical affairs that keep a home running smoothly.

Common phrases

  • 聘请管家pìn qǐng guǎn jiā

    hire a butler

  • 住家管家zhù jiā guǎn jiā

    live-in butler

  • 家庭管家jiā tíng guǎn jiā

    household butler

Similar words

保姆báo mǔ: A worker who regularly looks after children and assists with their care.
家政员jiā zhèng yuán: A household worker whose duties mainly include cleaning, cooking, and other domestic tasks.
帮佣bāng yōng: Temporary household help brought in to assist with chores for a limited time.

Definition in Chinese

受雇于家庭，负责统筹家务人员、安排日常起居、接待来客并可能管理家中账务的家庭管理者。shòu gù yú jiā tíng fù zé tǒng chóu jiā wù rén yuán ān pái rì cháng qǐ jū jiē dài lái kè bìng kě néng guán lǐ jiā zhōng zhàng wù de jiā tíng guán lí zhě

Word origin

管 (guǎn, "manage") + 家 (jiā, "home") forms a term for the person who manages a household as a whole.

Usage tips

  • For general conversation, this word carries a strong status and property-management flavor, so it may sound too grand for a person who simply helps with cleaning or cooking.

Other meanings

  • housekeepernoun
  • estate managernoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 住家管家zhù jiā guǎn jiālive-in butlernoun
  • 首席管家shǒu xí guǎn jiāhead butlernoun

Word lists with this word