
How to describe different rooms in a Chinese house context
Different rooms in a Chinese house context can be described using specific vocabulary that reflects their traditional uses and cultural significance. Here are the common rooms and how to describe them:
客厅 (kètīng) - Living Room
Literally “guest hall,” this is usually the most spacious room where families gather and entertain guests. It often has sofas, a TV, and sometimes a small shrine or decorative elements.
卧室 (wòshì) - Bedroom
Translated as “room to lie down,” bedrooms are private spaces for rest. There can be a master bedroom 主卧 (zhǔ wò) and secondary bedrooms 次卧 (cì wò).
厨房 (chúfáng) - Kitchen
Meaning “cooking room,” this is where meals are prepared. It often includes appliances and counters for food preparation.
餐厅 (cāntīng) - Dining Room
”Meal hall,” the space for family meals and gatherings, typically adjacent to the kitchen.
书房 (shūfáng) - Study Room
A place for reading and work, often quiet and furnished with bookshelves and desks.
卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) - Bathroom
The room for hygiene-related activities.
Other traditional elements in a Chinese home, especially in a siheyuan (a classical courtyard house), include:
- 大厅 (dàtīng) - Main Hall for family activities or formal gatherings.
- 厢房 (xiāngfáng) - Side rooms used for married sons or guests.
- 后罩房 (hòuzhàofáng) - Rear rooms for unmarried daughters or female servants, providing privacy.
The layout prioritizes family hierarchy and privacy, with courtyards and gates separating different parts of the house. Rooms typically face north or south for optimal feng shui, and there are screen walls (照壁 zhàobì) as protective and decorative elements.
Describing rooms in a Chinese house thus involves the specific terms above and an awareness of their traditional functions in family and architectural contexts. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7