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💗 在家里 (zài jiā lǐ) - At Home Activities

Learn essential vocabulary for describing activities at home. Practice expressing what you do, where you are, and daily routines using HSK1-HSK2 level vocabulary.

Chinese lesson from Thursday, June 26, 2025

🏠 Home Activities

Learn how to describe what you do at home using simple, practical expressions with characters you already know.

Perfect for beginners and essential concepts

📚 Key Phrase: 我在家里 (wǒ zài jiā lǐ)

📚 Grammar Focus

🏠 Location Pattern:
在 + [place] + [activity]

This pattern shows where you do something:
• 我在家里 (wǒ zài jiā lǐ) - I am at home
• 在家吃饭 (zài jiā chī fàn) - Eat at home
• 在家看书 (zài jiā kàn shū) - Read books at home
⏰ Ongoing Activity Pattern:
我在 + [verb] + [object]
• 我在看书 (wǒ zài kàn shū) - I am reading
• 我在吃饭 (wǒ zài chī fàn) - I am eating
• 我在工作 (wǒ zài gōng zuò) - I am working

在 shows the action is happening now.
你在做什么？
nǐ zài zuò shén me?
What are you doing?
💤 Daily Routine Expressions:
• Rest time: 我要睡觉 (wǒ yào shuì jiào) - I want to sleep
• Work status: 我不工作 (wǒ bù gōng zuò) - I don't work
• Time reference: 今天在家 (jīn tiān zài jiā) - Today at home
我在家里
wǒ zài jiā lǐ
I am at home
Estoy en casa

词汇 Vocabulary Practice

Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!

我在家里
wǒ zài jiā lǐ
English:
I am at home
Español:
Estoy en casa
你在做什么？
nǐ zài zuò shén me?
English:
What are you doing?
Español:
¿Qué estás haciendo?
我在看书
wǒ zài kàn shū
English:
I am reading a book
Español:
Estoy leyendo un libro
我要睡觉
wǒ yào shuì jiào
English:
I want to sleep
Español:
Quiero dormir
在家吃饭
zài jiā chī fàn
English:
Eat at home
Español:
Comer en casa
我不工作
wǒ bù gōng zuò
English:
I don't work
Español:
No trabajo
今天在家
jīn tiān zài jiā
English:
Today at home
Español:
Hoy en casa
和家人一起
hé jiā rén yì qǐ
English:
Together with family
Español:
Junto con la familia

文化 Cultural Insights

🏠 Chinese Home Culture

In Chinese culture, the home is considered a sacred space for family bonding. Activities like 在家吃饭 (eating at home) and 和家人一起 (being with family) are highly valued and prioritized over outside activities.

📚 Home Learning Tradition

我在看书 (reading at home) reflects the Chinese tradition of home-based learning. Many Chinese families create quiet study spaces at home where reading and learning are encouraged activities.

🍽️ Family Meal Importance

在家吃饭 (eating at home) is more than just having meals - it's about family unity. Chinese families often plan their schedules around shared home meals, seeing it as essential bonding time.

⏰ Daily Routines

Master expressions for daily home routines and asking about activities using familiar vocabulary patterns.

For students ready to dive deeper

📖 Reading Practice

📖 小丽在家 - Xiao Li at Home

Jīn tiān xiǎo Lì zài jiā lǐ.
今天小丽在家里。
Tā bù gōng zuò, zài jiā xiū xi.
她不工作，在家休息。
Mā ma wèn: "Nǐ zài zuò shén me?"
妈妈问："你在做什么？"
Xiǎo Lì shuō: "Wǒ zài kàn shū."
小丽说："我在看书。"
Wǎn shàng, tā hé jiā rén yì qǐ zài jiā chī fàn.
晚上，她和家人一起在家吃饭。
Chī wán fàn, xiǎo Lì shuō: "Wǒ yào shuì jiào le."
吃完饭，小丽说："我要睡觉了。"

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

休息
xiū xi
to rest
妈妈
mā ma
mother, mom
家人
jiā rén
family members
晚上
wǎn shàng
evening

作业 Homework & Practice

💗 At Home Activities Practice

📝 Writing Practice:
1. Write 5 sentences about what you do at home using: 我在家 + [activity]
2. Create daily routine conversations: A: 你在做什么？ B: 我在...
3. Write 3 sentences using 和家人一起 + [activity]

🗣️ Speaking Practice:
4. Practice asking about activities: 你在做什么？ (in different contexts)
5. Learn to describe your location: 我在家里 + what you're doing there

🎯 Real Life Application:
6. Describe your typical day at home using today's vocabulary
7. Learn 3 more home activities in Chinese: 看电视, 做饭, 洗衣服

💡 Bonus Challenge:
Create a full day at home schedule using: 今天在家 + different activities

🌟 Cultural Reflection:
Think about: How do home activities differ between your culture and Chinese culture? What makes family time special?

Practice Checklist:

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