# Chinese House Vocabulary: Rooms, Furniture & Household Items
> Learn Chinese house vocabulary, including room names, furniture, and household items, with characters and pinyin. Practical guide for describing homes.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/chinese/chinese-house-vocabulary
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-03
**Tags:** vocabulary, phrases
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[Learning Chinese](https://migaku.com/learn-chinese) house vocabulary opens up a whole new level of everyday conversation. Whether you're planning to rent an apartment in Beijing, describing your living room setup to a language partner, or just trying to understand what your tutor means when they talk about their 厨房, knowing the right words makes everything smoother. This guide covers all the essential housing vocabulary you need, from basic room names to furniture and household items, complete with characters and pinyin so you can start using these words right away.

<toc></toc>

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## The core word for house in Chinese
Let's start with the foundation. 

The most common word for "house" in Mandarin is <typo lang="zh" syntax="房子[fang2 zi;h]"></typo>. You'll hear this everywhere when people talk about homes, apartments, or any kind of residential building. Here's the thing, <typo lang="zh" syntax="房子[fang2 zi;h]"></typo> can mean a standalone house, an apartment unit, or even just a room depending on context.

Another super important word is <typo lang="zh" syntax="家[jia1;h]"></typo>, which means "home" or "family." When someone says <typo lang="zh" syntax="我家[wo3 jia1;h]"></typo>, they're talking about "my home" or "my family." The difference? <typo lang="zh" syntax="房子[fang2 zi;h]"></typo> is the physical structure, while <typo lang="zh" syntax="家[jia1;h]"></typo> is where you actually live and feel at home.

When you're counting houses in Chinese, you need [measure words](https://migaku.com/blog/chinese/chinese-counters-list-complete-guide). The most common ones are <typo lang="zh" syntax="栋[dong4;h]"></typo> and <typo lang="zh" syntax="幢[zhuang4;h]"></typo>. So "one house" becomes <typo lang="zh" syntax="一栋房子[yi1 dong4 fang2 zi;h]"></typo>. Pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

Quick examples:
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="你[ni3;r]买房[mai3 fang2;n]子[zi3;ng|zi5;ng]了[le5;ul|liao3;ul|liao4;ul]吗[ma5;y|ma3;y]？"></typo><br>*Did you buy a house?*
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我想回家[wo3 xiang3 hui2 jia1;h]"></typo>。<br>*I want to go home.*

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## Room vocabulary you'll actually use
Every room in a Chinese home has its own specific name. Let's break down the essential ones you'll use constantly.

### Bedroom basics
The bedroom is <typo lang="zh" syntax="卧室[wo4 shi4;h]"></typo> in Chinese. This is where you sleep, so it literally contains the character for "lying down" (<typo lang="zh" syntax="卧[wo4;h]"></typo>). If you have multiple bedrooms, you can specify: <typo lang="zh" syntax="主卧室[zhu3 wo4 shi4;h]"></typo> is the master bedroom.

Some apartments also have a <typo lang="zh" syntax="书房[shu1 fang2;h]"></typo>, which is a study or home office. This one's becoming super common as more people work from home.

### Living spaces
The living room is <typo lang="zh" syntax="客厅[ke4 ting1;h]"></typo>. The character <typo lang="zh" syntax="客[ke4;h]"></typo> means "guest," so this is literally the guest hall where you entertain visitors. Most Chinese apartments have the living room as the central space right when you walk in.

The dining room is <typo lang="zh" syntax="饭厅[fan4 ting1;h]"></typo>, though honestly, many apartments combine the living and dining areas into one space. In that case, people just call it <typo lang="zh" syntax="客厅[ke4 ting1;h]"></typo>.

If you're lucky enough to have a balcony, that's <typo lang="zh" syntax="阳台[yang2 tai2;h]"></typo>. Pretty common in Chinese housing, especially in cities where outdoor space is limited.

### Kitchen and bathroom
The kitchen is <typo lang="zh" syntax="厨房[chu2 fang2;h]"></typo>. Notice that character <typo lang="zh" syntax="房[fang2;h]"></typo> showing up again? It's used in several room names.

For bathrooms, you have a couple options. <typo lang="zh" syntax="浴室[yu4 shi4;h]"></typo> and <typo lang="zh" syntax="卫生间[wei4 sheng1 jian1;h]"></typo> are both general terms for bathroom or restroom. Most of the Chinese households combine the bathing area and the toilet.

Here's a practical sentence: 
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我[wo3;r]的[de5;uj|di4;uj|di2;uj|di1;uj]公寓[gong1 yu4;n]有[you3;v]两[liang3;m]个[ge4;q]卧室[wo4 shi4;n]，一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]浴室[yu4 shi4;n]，还有[hai2 you3;v]一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]小厨[xiao3 chu2;n]房[fang2;n|hou4 fang2;n]。"></typo><br>*My apartment has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small kitchen.*

### Other spaces
Some homes have a <typo lang="zh" syntax="地下室[di4 xia4 shi4;h]"></typo>, which is a basement. Not super common in modern Chinese apartments, but you'll find them in older houses.

The hallway or corridor is <typo lang="zh" syntax="走廊[zou3 lang2;h]"></typo>, and the entrance hall is <typo lang="zh" syntax="门厅[men2 ting1;h]"></typo> or <typo lang="zh" syntax="玄关[xuan2 guan1;ns]"></typo>.

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## Essential furniture vocabulary
Now that you know the rooms, let's fill them with furniture.

### Bedroom furniture
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="床[chuang2;h]"></typo> | Bed |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="单人床[dan1 ren2 chuang2;h]"></typo> | Single bed |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="双人床[shuang1 ren2 chuang2;h]"></typo> | Double bed |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="衣柜[yi1 gui4;h]"></typo> | Wardrobe / Closet |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="床头柜[chuang2 tou2 gui4;h]"></typo> | Nightstand |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="台灯[tai2 deng1;h]"></typo> | Desk lamp |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="镜子[jing4 zi;h]"></typo> | Mirror |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="枕头[zhen3 tou;h]"></typo> | Pillow |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="被子[bei4 zi;h]"></typo> | Blanket / Quilt |

### Living room furniture
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="沙发[sha1 fa1;h]"></typo> | Sofa / Couch |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="茶几[cha2 ji1;h]"></typo> | Coffee table |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="桌子[zhuo1 zi;h]"></typo> | Table |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="椅子[yi3 zi;h]"></typo> | Chair |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="电视[dian4 shi4;h]"></typo> | TV |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="电视柜[dian4 shi4 gui4;h]"></typo> | TV stand |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="书架[shu1 jia4;h]"></typo> | Bookshelf |

### Dining area
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="餐桌[can1 zhuo1;h]"></typo> | Dining table |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="餐椅[can1 yi3;h]"></typo> | Dining chair |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="碗柜[wan3 gui4;h]"></typo> | Cupboard for dishes |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="酒柜[jiu3 gui4;h]"></typo> | Wine cabinet |

### Kitchen furniture and fixtures
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="橱柜[chu2 gui4;h]"></typo> | Kitchen cabinets |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="台面[tai2 mian4;h]"></typo> | Counter / countertop |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="水槽[shui3 cao2;h]"></typo> | Sink |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="炉灶[lu2 zao4;h]"></typo> | Stove |

----
## Household appliances and items
This is where your vocabulary gets really practical for daily life.

### Kitchen appliances
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="冰箱[bing1 xiang1;h]"></typo> | Refrigerator / Fridge |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="微波炉[wei1 bo1 lu2;h]"></typo> | Microwave |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="烤箱[kao3 xiang1;h]"></typo> | Oven |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="洗碗机[xi3 wan3 ji1;h]"></typo> | Dishwasher |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="电饭煲[dian4 fan4 bao1;h]"></typo> | Rice cooker (essential in any Chinese kitchen!) |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="热水壶[re4 shui3 hu2;h]"></typo> | Electric kettle |

### Cleaning supplies
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="洗衣机[xi3 yi1 ji1;h]"></typo> | Washing machine |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="吸尘器[xi1 chen2 qi4;h]"></typo> | Vacuum cleaner |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="扫帚[sao4 zhou;h]"></typo> | Broom |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="拖把[tuo1 ba3;h]"></typo> | Mop |

### Bathroom items
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="淋浴[lin2 yu4;h]"></typo> | Shower |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="浴缸[yu4 gang1;h]"></typo> | Bathtub |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="毛巾[mao2 jin1;h]"></typo> | Towel |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="肥皂[fei2 zao4;h]"></typo> | Soap |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="牙刷[ya2 shua1;h]"></typo> | Toothbrush |

### Climate control
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="空调[kong1 tiao2;h]"></typo> | Air conditioner (absolutely crucial in Chinese summers!) |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="暖气[nuan3 qi4;h]"></typo> | Heating |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="风扇[feng1 shan4;h]"></typo> | Fan |

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## Renting vs buying housing vocabulary
Did you buy or rent this house? That's a common question in chinese: <typo lang="zh" syntax="你[ni3;r]买[mai3;v]的[de5;uj|di4;uj|di2;uj|di1;uj]还是[hai2 shi5;c]租[zu1;v]的[de5;uj|di4;uj|di2;uj|di1;uj]？"></typo>

Useful housing transaction vocabulary:
| Chinese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="买[mai3;h]"></typo> | To buy |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="租[zu1;h]"></typo> | To rent |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="房租[fang2 zu1;h]"></typo> | Rent (the money you pay) |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="房东[fang2 dong1;h]"></typo> | Landlord |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="租客[zu1 ke4;h]"></typo> | Tenant |
| <typo lang="zh" syntax="押金[ya1 jin1;h]"></typo> | Deposit |

When you're apartment hunting, you might say: 
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我[wo3;r]在[zai4;p]找[zhao3;v]一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]一[yi1;m]室[shi4;n|hou4 shi4;n]一[yi1;m]厅[ting1;n]的[de5;uj|di4;uj|di2;uj|di1;uj]公寓[gong1 yu4;n]。"></typo><br>*I'm looking for a one-bedroom, one-living-room apartment.*

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## Understanding measure words for household objects
Chinese uses specific measure words when counting objects, and household items are no exception. You already saw <typo lang="zh" syntax="栋[dong4;zg]"></typo> for buildings, but here are more:

- <typo lang="zh" syntax="张[zhang1;h]"></typo> for flat objects: <typo lang="zh" syntax="一张桌子[yi1 zhang1 zhuo1 zi;h]"></typo> = one table, <typo lang="zh" syntax="一张床[yi1 zhang1 chuang2;h]"></typo> = one bed
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="把[ba3;h]"></typo> for objects with handles: <typo lang="zh" syntax="一把椅子[yi1 ba3 yi3 zi;h]"></typo> = one chair
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="台[tai2;h]"></typo> for machines: <typo lang="zh" syntax="一台电视[yi1 tai2 dian4 shi4;h]"></typo> = one TV, <typo lang="zh" syntax="一台洗衣机[yi1 tai2 xi3 yi1 ji1;h]"></typo> = one washing machine
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="个[ge4;h]"></typo> is the general catch-all measure word when you're not sure

Getting these right makes your Mandarin sound way more natural.

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## Describing your home in Chinese
Knowing individual words is great, but you need to string them together to actually describe where you live. Here are some useful patterns.

When someone asks <typo lang="zh" syntax="你[ni3;r]住[zhu4;v]在[zai4;p]哪里[na3 li3;r]"></typo> meaning "Where do you live?", you might answer:
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我[wo3;r]住[zhu4;v]在[zai4;p]公寓[gong1 yu4;n]里[li3;f]。"></typo><br>*I live in an apartment.*
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我[wo3;r]住[zhu4;v]在[zai4;p]一[yi1;m]栋[dong4;zg]房子[fang2 zi5;n]里[li3;f]。"></typo><br>*I live in a house.*

To describe what rooms you have:
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="我[wo3;r]的[de5;uj|di4;uj|di2;uj|di1;uj]家[jia1;q]有[you3;v]三[san1;m|lian2 er4 bing4 san1;i]个[ge4;q]房间[fang2 jian1;n]：两[liang3;m]个[ge4;q]卧室[wo4 shi4;n]和[he2;c|huo4;c|huo2;c|he4;c|hu2;c]一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]客厅[ke4 ting1;n]。"></typo><br>*My home has three rooms: two bedrooms and one living room.*

Talking about furniture:
- <typo lang="zh" syntax="客厅[ke4 ting1;n]里[li3;f]有[you3;v]一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]沙发[sha1 fa1;nz]，一[yi1;m]个[ge4;q]茶几[cha2 ji1;n]，还有[hai2 you3;v]一[yi1;m]台[tai2;q]电视[dian4 shi4;n]。"></typo><br>*The living room has a sofa, a coffee table, and a TV.*

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## Building your Chinese house vocabulary list
So how do you learn all this vocabulary? Here's what works.

1. Start with the rooms you use most. If you spend all your time in your bedroom and kitchen, focus on those first. Learn 卧室, 床, 衣柜, then move to 厨房, 冰箱, 炉灶. Make it relevant to your actual life.
2. Label objects in your home with sticky notes showing the [chinese character, pinyin, and English](https://migaku.com/blog/chinese/chinese-characters). Every time you open the 冰箱, you'll see the word. Repetition in context beats memorizing random lists.
3. Practice describing your living space out loud. Walk through your apartment and narrate what you see in Chinese.

Anyway, if you want to use these vocabulary words with real Chinese content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up characters and save sentences instantly while watching shows or reading articles. Makes building your housing vocabulary way more practical. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

<img src="https://migaku-cms-assets.migaku.com/Screenshot_2026_04_23_034328_d2edbbfd8d/Screenshot_2026_04_23_034328_d2edbbfd8d.png" width="1920" height="1080" alt="learn chinese vocabulary with migaku browser extension and app" />

<prose-button href="/learn-chinese" text="Learn Chinese with Migaku"></prose-button>

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## The best way to cement this Chinese vocabulary? 
Immersion. Watch [Chinese home and lifestyle content](https://migaku.com/blog/chinese/best-chinese-shows-for-language-learners), read apartment listings, and listen to people talk about their living situations. When you encounter these words in real context, they stop being abstract vocabulary and become tools you actually use.

> If you consume media in Chinese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. *Period*.

How you describe your home reflects who you are.🏡💚