jiāwù: 家务 - Housework, Chores, Household Duties

• Keywords: jiāwù, 家务, housework in Chinese, chores in Chinese, household duties Chinese, do chores Chinese, Chinese word for housework, learn Chinese, zuò jiāwù, 做家务, domestic tasks China
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 家务 (jiāwù), which means “housework,” “chores,” or “household duties.” This guide breaks down the characters 家 (home) and 务 (duties), explores its cultural significance in modern China, and provides over 10 practical example sentences, like the common phrase 做家务 (zuò jiāwù), meaning “to do housework.” Ideal for HSK 3 students and anyone wanting to discuss daily life in Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāwù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Housework, household chores, or domestic duties.
• In a Nutshell: 家务 (jiāwù) is the general, all-encompassing term for the routine tasks required to maintain a home. It covers everything from cleaning and cooking to laundry and tidying up. It's a very practical and common word used in everyday conversations about family life and responsibilities.

• 家 (jiā): This character means “home” or “family.” The top part (宀) is the “roof” radical, and the bottom part (豕) is an ancient pictograph for a pig. In ancient China, raising a pig indoors was a symbol of a settled, domestic household, making it a powerful character for “home.”
• 务 (wù): This character means “affair,” “business,” or “duty.” It refers to tasks or matters that require attention and effort.
• Together, 家 (jiā) + 务 (wù) literally translates to “home duties” or “family affairs,” perfectly capturing the meaning of “housework.”

Historically, 家务 (jiāwù) was deeply tied to traditional gender roles in China, often considered the exclusive domain of the woman of the house (家庭主妇, jiātíng zhǔfù). A well-kept home was a reflection of her diligence and virtue, directly impacting the family's social standing or “face” (面子, miànzi). This can be contrasted with the modern American/Western ideal of “sharing chores,” which, while also evolving, arguably began from a more individualistic standpoint. In the Chinese context, performing 家务 was traditionally seen less as a personal contribution and more as fulfilling a fundamental, pre-defined role for the harmony of the collective family unit. In modern urban China, these roles are rapidly changing. With more women participating in the workforce, the concept of 分担家务 (fēndān jiāwù)—sharing the housework—is now a common topic of discussion and a key aspect of modern relationships. However, traditional expectations can still linger, especially in more rural areas or among older generations, making the division of 家务 a frequent point of negotiation in contemporary Chinese families.

家务 (jiāwù) is almost exclusively used as a noun. The most important phrase to learn is 做家务 (zuò jiāwù), which means “to do housework.”

• Daily Conversation: People use it to talk about their daily routine, complain about chores, or organize family responsibilities. For example: “我今天有很多家务要做” (I have a lot of housework to do today).
• Dividing Chores: The phrase 分担家务 (fēndān jiāwù) is key when discussing how couples or families share the workload.
• Hiring Help: It's common for families, especially in cities, to hire an 阿姨 (āyí), a domestic helper, to assist with 家务.
• Connotation: The word itself is neutral, but the context determines the feeling. It can be discussed matter-of-factly, complained about as a burden, or talked about with satisfaction when a home is clean. It is generally considered informal. A more formal or written term might be 家政 (jiāzhèng), which refers to “home economics” or “domestic management.”

• Example 1:
  • 今天我们分工合作，一起做家务。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān wǒmen fēngōng hézuò, yīqǐ zuò jiāwù.
  • English: Today we'll divide the work and do the housework together.
  • Analysis: This shows the common verb `做 (zuò)` used with `家务`. The phrase `分工合作 (fēngōng hézuò)` emphasizes cooperation in tackling chores.
• Example 2:
  • 我妈妈每天都要处理很多家务，比如做饭和洗衣服。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ māma měitiān dōu yào chǔlǐ hěn duō jiāwù, bǐrú zuòfàn hé xǐ yīfu.
  • English: My mom has to handle a lot of housework every day, such as cooking and washing clothes.
  • Analysis: Here, `处理 (chǔlǐ)` is used to mean “handle” or “deal with,” and specific chores are listed as examples of `家务`.
• Example 3:
  • 吃完饭后，谁来做家务？
  • Pinyin: Chī wán fàn hòu, shéi lái zuò jiāwù?
  • English: After dinner, who is going to do the chores?
  • Analysis: A very common and practical question in a family setting. `家务` here can imply washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.
• Example 4:
  • 他不爱做家务，房间总是很乱。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù ài zuò jiāwù, fángjiān zǒngshì hěn luàn.
  • English: He doesn't like to do housework, so his room is always a mess.
  • Analysis: This example connects the action (or lack thereof) of doing `家务` to its direct consequence.
• Example 5:
  • 在我们家，爸爸妈妈一起分担家务。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen jiā, bàba māma yīqǐ fēndān jiāwù.
  • English: In our family, Dad and Mom share the housework together.
  • Analysis: This highlights the modern concept of sharing chores using the specific verb `分担 (fēndān)`.
• Example 6:
  • 我觉得做家务可以是一种放松的方式。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juéde zuò jiāwù kěyǐ shì yī zhǒng fàngsōng de fāngshì.
  • English: I think doing chores can be a way to relax.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows a positive perspective on `家务`, which is less common but perfectly valid.
• Example 7:
  • 这个周末我什么都不想干，只想把家务做完。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò wǒ shénme dōu bùxiǎng gàn, zhǐ xiǎng bǎ jiāwù zuò wán.
  • English: This weekend I don't want to do anything except finish the housework.
  • Analysis: This uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to emphasize the completion of the `家务`.
• Example 8:
  • 繁重的家务让她感到很疲惫。
  • Pinyin: Fánzhòng de jiāwù ràng tā gǎndào hěn píbèi.
  • English: The heavy housework made her feel very exhausted.
  • Analysis: `繁重 (fánzhòng)` is a common adjective used to describe `家务` when it is particularly demanding or burdensome.
• Example 9:
  • 他们因为谁该做家务而吵架了。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen yīnwèi shéi gāi zuò jiāwù ér chǎojià le.
  • English: They argued over who should do the housework.
  • Analysis: A realistic example showing how `家务` can be a source of conflict.
• Example 10:
  • 智能家居产品可以帮助我们减轻家务负担。
  • Pinyin: Zhìnéng jiājū chǎnpǐn kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen jiǎnqīng jiāwù fùdān.
  • English: Smart home products can help us lighten the burden of housework.
  • Analysis: This connects `家务` to a modern topic. `负担 (fùdān)` means “burden,” a word often paired with `家务`.

• Mistake 1: Confusing `家务 (jiāwù)` with `工作 (gōngzuò)`
  • `家务` is specifically unpaid work done to maintain one's own home. `工作 (gōngzuò)` is one's job, profession, or paid work.
  • Incorrect: 我今天在家有很多工作要做，比如洗衣服和打扫。 (This implies you are a paid domestic worker in your own home).
  • Correct: 我今天在家有很多家务要做，比如洗衣服和打扫。 (I have a lot of housework to do at home today, like washing clothes and cleaning.)
• Mistake 2: Using `家务` as a verb.
  • `家务` is a noun. You cannot “housework” a room. You must use a verb, most commonly `做 (zuò)`, meaning “to do.”
  • Incorrect: 我需要家务我的房间。 (I need to housework my room.)
  • Correct: 我需要做家务，打扫一下我的房间。 (I need to do housework and clean my room a bit.)

• 做家务 (zuò jiāwù) - The essential verb-object phrase meaning “to do housework.”
• 家务活 (jiāwùhuó) - A more colloquial, especially Northern, equivalent of `家务`. The character `活 (huó)` means “work” or “labor.”
• 打扫 (dǎsǎo) - A specific chore: to clean, sweep, or tidy up.
• 收拾 (shōushi) - A specific chore: to tidy up, put in order, or pack.
• 洗衣服 (xǐ yīfu) - A specific chore: to wash clothes.
• 做饭 (zuò fàn) - A specific chore: to cook a meal.
• 分担 (fēndān) - A verb meaning “to share (a burden/responsibility),” often used with `家务`.
• 家庭主妇 (jiātíng zhǔfù) - “Housewife,” a person whose primary role is managing `家务`.
• 阿姨 (āyí) - “Auntie,” but also the common term for a nanny or domestic helper hired to do `家务`.
• 懒 (lǎn) - An adjective meaning “lazy,” often used to describe someone who avoids doing `家务`.