东家

東家

dōngjiā

noun #26,309

Measure Word

一位东家 wèi

Meanings

1 master
2 employer
3 landlord
4 boss
5 patron (traditional)

Characters

east / host (traditional)

home / family / household

Examples

旧时代，长工都要听东家的话。

Jiù shídài, cháng gōng dōu yào tīng dōngjiā de huà.

In the old days, hired farmhands all had to obey their employer.

他换了个新东家，待遇好多了。

Tā huàn le gè xīn dōngjiā, dàiyù hǎo duō le.

He changed to a new employer and the treatment is much better.

Tips

history

东家 originally referred to the host or employer in traditional Chinese households. The direction east (东) was associated with the master's seat — guests typically sat to the west at banquets. The term still appears in colloquial or nostalgic speech.

Stroke Order

东 dōng

家 jiā