Do you know how many rooms there are in a Chinese house? Can you mention at least 15 words for different rooms in a house in Chinese? In this blog post, we will walk you through the traditional Chinese house structure and mention the Chinese characters for each room. Let’s get started!
I know what you’re thinking! Learning the Chinese words for Fángjiān (房间 in simplified and 房間 in traditional) or rooms in the house might seem unnecessary at first. However, it is essential when learning Chinese because it is a practical vocabulary frequently used in daily communication. Knowing the words for rooms, such as the living room, bedroom, and kitchen can help you understand and participate in conversations about where someone lives or where certain activities occur. Want to learn more? Let’s go deeper into this below!
What Defines A Chinese House?
The basic design of a traditional Chinese home is a courtyard with several houses positioned all around a large open area. Most frequently, a gate or archway leading into the courtyard serves as the principal entry.
The biggest structure usually has the primary living quarters, while lesser structures may be utilized for storage, workshops, or guest rooms. The style frequently uses timber and tile for construction, as well as sloping roofs with upturned eaves.
Additionally, elaborate carvings and ornamental components like painted or glazed tiles are frequently seen in traditional Chinese homes.
Rooms In A House In Chinese
Depending on the size and design of the house, a Chinese home may include one or more rooms. A siheyuan (四合院), or traditional Chinese home, generally consists of a courtyard in the middle and four rooms on either side. Modern Chinese dwellings, on the other hand, can contain any number of rooms, depending on the layout and the requirements of the occupants.
To help you interact with the locals better, check out the translations below for every room in a Chinese home.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Attic | 阁楼 | 閣樓 | Gélóu |
| Ballroom | 舞厅 | 舞廳 | Wǔtīng |
| Box Room | 收藏室 | 收藏室 | Shōucáng Shì |
| Cellar | 地窖 | 地窖 | Dìjiào |
| Cloakroom | 衣帽间 | 衣帽間 | Yīmàojiān |
| Dining Room | 饭厅 | 飯廳 | Fàntīng |
| Drawing Room | 客厅 | 客廳 | Kètīng |
| Games Room | 游戏室 | 遊戲室 | Yóuxì Shì |
| Hall | 大厅 | 大廳 | Dàtīng |
| Living Room | 客厅 | 客廳 | Kètīng |
| Music Room | 音乐房 | 音樂房 | Yīnyuè Fáng |
| Office | 办公室 | 辦公室 | Bàngōngshì |
| Pantry | 茶水间 | 茶水間 | Cháshuǐ Jiān |
| Parlor | 客厅 | 客廳 | Kètīng |
| Toilet | 洗手间 | 洗手間 | Xǐshǒujiān |
| Utility Room | 杂物间 | 雜物間 | Zá Wù Jiān |
Chinese Vocabulary About Office Rooms
Depending on the size and nature of the organization, office spaces called Bàngōngshì fángjiān (办公室房间: simplified, 辦公室房間:traditional) in China might differ. In general, they are comparable to office spaces in other nations. In addition to computers and other office supplies, they frequently include desks and chairs for the staff. In China, a conference room is a common addition to office spaces for meetings and presentations.
Additionally, some larger businesses could include a lobby and separate offices for managers and executives. The layout and design of offices in China are comparable to those in western nations. However, Chinese culture may be reflected in the decoration.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Bookshelf/Bookcase | 书架/书柜 | 書架/書櫃 | Shūjià/Shūguì |
| Chair | 椅子 | 椅子 | Yǐzi |
| Desktop/Pc | 桌上型电脑 | 桌上型電腦 | Zhuō Shàng Xíng Diànnǎo |
| Drawers | 抽屉 | 抽屜 | Chōutì |
| Eraser | 橡皮 | 橡皮 | Xiàngpí |
| Globe | 地球 | 地球 | Dìqiú |
| Grandfather Clock | 祖父钟 | 祖父鐘 | Zǔfù Zhōng |
| Highlighter | 荧光笔 | 熒光筆 | Yíngguāng Bǐ |
| Labels | 标签 | 標籤 | Biāoqiān |
| Laptop | 笔记本电脑 | 筆記本電腦 | Bǐjìběn Diànnǎo |
| Markers | 标记 | 標記 | Biāojì |
| Paper Clips | 曲别针 | 曲別針 | Qūbiézhēn |
| Pen | 笔 | 筆 | Bǐ |
| Pencil | 铅笔 | 鉛筆 | Qiānbǐ |
| Printer | 打印机 | 打印機 | Dǎyìnjī |
| Rocking Chair | 摇椅 | 搖椅 | Yáoyǐ |
| Sticky Notes | 便利贴 | 便利貼 | Biànlì Tiē |
| Tape | 胶带 | 膠帶 | Jiāodài |
Bedroom-Related Vocabulary In Chinese
The bedroom called Wòshì (卧室:simplified, 臥室:traditional) is regarded as a holy and personal sanctuary in Chinese culture. To encourage sound sleep and good health, it is essential in Chinese culture to keep the bedroom serene and tranquil. To facilitate the proper energy flow, arranging the bed in a specific location inside the room is also customary, such as facing the entrance but not directly in line with it. Mirrors are also typically avoided in bedrooms as it is thought that they disturb the tranquil atmosphere of the area.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Alarm Clock | 闹钟 | 鬧鐘 | Nàozhōng |
| Bed | 床 | 床 | Chuáng |
| Blanket | 毯子 | 毯子 | Tǎnzi |
| Bunk | 假寐 | 假寐 | Jiǎmèi |
| Closet | 壁橱 | 壁櫥 | Bìchú |
| Curtain | 窗帘 | 窗簾 | Chuānglián |
| Dresser | 梳妆台 | 梳妝台 | Shūzhuāng Tái |
| King-Sized | 特大号 | 特大號 | Tèdà Hào |
| Lamp | 灯 | 燈 | Dēng |
| Mattress | 床垫 | 床墊 | Chuáng Diàn |
| Nightstand/Bedstand | 床头柜/床头柜 | 床頭櫃/床頭櫃 | Chuángtóuguì/Chuángtóuguì |
| Pillow | 枕头 | 枕頭 | Zhěntou |
| Twin | 双胞胎 | 雙胞胎 | Shuāngbāotāi |
| Vanity | 虚荣 | 虛榮 | Xūróng |
| Wardrobe | 衣柜 | 衣櫃 | Yīguì |
| Window | 窗户 | 窗戶 | Chuānghù |
Kitchen-Related Chinese Vocabulary
The Chinese view the kitchen, which is Chúfáng (厨房: simplified, 廚房:traditional) in Chinese, as the center of the home and frequently associate it with luck and success. The kitchen should always be kept clean and organized since a cluttered kitchen is believed to bring bad luck.
The stove, frequently positioned in the middle of the kitchen, is also considered a valuable energy source. In traditional Chinese houses, the kitchen is commonly located off the main living spaces to separate the heat and odors associated with cooking.
To bring luck, happiness, and wealth to the kitchen, many Chinese households also hang red couplets or images of the Chinese dragon on the door or walls. Let’s now learn some kitchen-related words in Chinese.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Blender | 搅拌机 | 攪拌機 | Jiǎobànjī |
| Can Opener | 开罐器 | 開罐器 | Kāi Guàn Qì |
| Cookware | 炊具 | 炊具 | Chuījù |
| Cutting Board | 砧板 | 砧板 | Zhēnbǎn |
| Dinner Knife | 餐刀 | 餐刀 | Cān Dāo |
| Gas Stove | 煤气灶 | 煤氣灶 | Méiqì Zào |
| Jug | 水罐 | 水罐 | Shuǐ Guàn |
| Juicer | 榨汁机 | 榨汁機 | Zhà Zhī Jī |
| Kettle | 壶 | 壺 | Hú |
| Knife Set | 刀具套装 | 刀具套裝 | Dāojù Tàozhuāng |
| Lemon Squeezer | 柠檬榨汁器 | 檸檬榨汁器 | Níngméng Zhà Zhī Qì |
| Matchbox | 火柴盒 | 火柴盒 | Huǒchái Hé |
| Measuring Spoons | 量匙 | 量匙 | Liàng Shi |
| Potato Peeler | 马铃薯削皮器 | 馬鈴薯削皮器 | Mǎlíngshǔ Xiāo Pí Qì |
| Serving Bowl | 服务碗 | 服務碗 | Fúwù Wǎn |
| Sieve | 筛 | 篩 | Shāi |
Bathroom-Related Chinese Vocabulary
The restroom is typically considered unlucky in Chinese culture because it is said to harbor bad energy and pollutants. To dispel bad energy, it is said the Chinese restroom has to be maintained spotless and well-ventilated. Additionally, it is customary to refrain from putting any religious or auspicious artifacts in the restroom since doing so is disrespectful.
In Chinese culture, the term “toilet” is similarly frowned upon. Instead, euphemisms like “going to wash one’s face” or “going to the tiny room” are frequently used instead.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Artwork | 艺术品 | 藝術品 | Yìshù Pǐn |
| Basket | 篮子 | 籃子 | Lánzi |
| Conditioner | 护发素 | 護髮素 | Hù Fà Sù |
| Hairdryer | 电吹风 | 電吹風 | Diàn Chuīfēng |
| Hand Dispenser | 手动点胶机 | 手動點膠機 | Shǒudòng Diǎn Jiāo Jī |
| Mirror | 镜子 | 鏡子 | Jìngzi |
| Paper | 纸 | 紙 | Zhǐ |
| Plunger | 柱塞 | 柱塞 | Zhù Sāi |
| Polish | 抛光 | 拋光 | Pāoguāng |
| Stall | 失速 | 失速 | Shīsù |
| Tiles | 瓷砖 | 瓷磚 | Cízhuān |
| Toilet | 洗手间 | 洗手間 | Xǐshǒujiān |
| Toothbrush | 牙刷 | 牙刷 | Yáshuā |
| Toothpaste | 牙膏 | 牙膏 | Yágāo |
| Towel Rack | 毛巾架 | 毛巾架 | Máojīn Jià |
Living Room-Related Vocabulary In Chinese
The living room, or “sitting room,” called Kètīng (客厅: simplified, 客廳: traditional), is seen as a place for socializing with family and hosting visitors in Chinese culture. It is customarily embellished with lucky signs, artwork, Chinese couplets, calligraphy, and paintings of landscapes and flowers.
To emphasize how important it is to welcome guests, the living room is typically situated near the home’s entrance. It is seen as unpleasant to have one’s back at the door. Thus, sofas and chairs are often situated such that visitors may face the entrance and have a clear view of the room. The arrangement of the furniture is also significant.
| English Words | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | Romanization |
| Carpet | 地毯 | 地毯 | Dìtǎn |
| Coffee Table | 咖啡桌 | 咖啡桌 | Kāfēi Zhuō |
| Fireplace | 壁炉 | 壁爐 | Bìlú |
| Firewood | 柴 | 柴 | Chái |
| Futon | 被褥 | 被褥 | Bèirù |
| Rug | 小地毯 | 小地毯 | Xiǎo Dì Tǎn |
| Side Table | 茶几 | 茶几 | Chájī |
| Sofa/Couch | 沙发 | 沙發 | Shāfā |
| Speakers | 音箱 | 音箱 | Yīnxiāng |
| Television | 电视 | 電視 | Diànshì |
| TV Stand | 电视架 | 電視架 | Diànshì Jià |
Wrapping Up
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