jiājiào: 家教 - Private Tutor; Upbringing/Family Education

• Keywords: jiājiao, 家教, Chinese tutor, private tutoring in China, Chinese family education, Chinese upbringing, what does jiajiao mean, how to hire a tutor in China, 家教 vs 老师, Chinese parenting, well-mannered in Chinese.
• Summary: The Chinese word 家教 (jiājiào) has two powerful, related meanings that are central to understanding modern Chinese culture. It can refer to a private tutor hired for academic help, a massive industry driven by intense educational competition. It also signifies a person's upbringing or family education—the manners, discipline, and values instilled by one's parents. Whether discussing a student's need for a math tutor or praising someone for being well-mannered, `家教` reveals the deep link between home and education in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiājiào
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A private tutor or private tutoring; the upbringing, discipline, or education a person receives from their family.
• In a Nutshell: `家教` literally translates to “home education.” This perfectly captures its two main uses. The first is education that happens *in the home*, like hiring a private tutor (`家教`) to help with homework. The second is the education that comes *from the home*, meaning the morals, manners, and behavior your family taught you. The context almost always makes the meaning clear.

• 家 (jiā): This character depicts a pig (豕) under a roof (宀). In ancient China, pigs were a sign of wealth and a staple of the household, so the character came to mean “home,” “family,” or “household.”
• 教 (jiào): This character is a combination of `孝 (xiào)` meaning filial piety, and `攵`, a symbol for a hand holding a stick. It originally depicted an elder teaching a child, emphasizing the importance of filial piety and discipline in education. It means “to teach” or “education.”
• Combined Meaning: When you put “home/family” (家) and “teach/education” (教) together, you get `家教`, “family teaching.” This elegantly branches into the two modern meanings: the academic teaching one hires for the home (a tutor) and the moral teaching one receives from the family (upbringing).

`家教` provides a fascinating window into the pressures and values of Chinese society. 1. The “Tutor” (Academic Pressure): In modern China, the education system is incredibly competitive, culminating in the life-altering university entrance exam, the `高考 (gāokǎo)`. This immense pressure has created a booming private tutoring industry. Hiring a `家教` is not a luxury for the struggling student; it's a standard and often necessary tool for nearly everyone, from elementary school to high school, to gain a competitive edge. This meaning of `家教` is a direct reflection of a society that places a supreme value on academic achievement as the primary path to success. 2. The “Upbringing” (Social Harmony and Respect): This meaning is more traditional and deeply rooted in Confucian values. A person who `有家教 (yǒu jiājiào)`, or “has family education,” is polite, respectful to elders, well-behaved, and understands social etiquette. Conversely, accusing someone of being `没家教 (méi jiājiào)`, “lacking family education,” is a serious insult. It's not just a critique of the individual's behavior but a condemnation of their entire family for failing to instill proper values. Comparison to Western Culture: While Western cultures have both private tutors and concepts like “being well-raised,” `家教` is different. A “tutor” in the West is often seen as remedial help. In China, a `家教` is often for excelling and getting ahead. “Well-raised” in the West is a general compliment, but `有家教` in China implies a more specific set of behaviors tied to respect for hierarchy, modesty, and social harmony. Saying someone is `没家教` is far more offensive than saying someone is “rude” or “impolite” in English.

This is the dominant meaning in everyday conversation, especially among students and parents.

• Hiring a tutor: `我需要给儿子找个数学家教。` (Wǒ xūyào gěi érzi zhǎo ge shùxué jiājiào.) - I need to find a math tutor for my son.
• Working as a tutor: `很多大学生通过做家教来赚钱。` (Hěnduō dàxuéshēng tōngguò zuò jiājiào lái zhuànqián.) - Many university students earn money by being a tutor.

This usage is judgmental and carries significant weight. It's used to praise good behavior or severely criticize bad behavior.

• Positive (Compliment): `这孩子真懂事，一看就有家教。` (Zhè háizi zhēn dǒngshì, yí kàn jiù yǒu jiājiào.) - This child is so sensible; you can tell at a glance they are well-brought-up.
• Negative (Insult): `在公共场所大声说话，太没家教了！` (Zài gōnggòng chǎngsuǒ dàshēng shuōhuà, tài méi jiājiào le!) - Speaking so loudly in a public place, what a total lack of upbringing!

• Example 1:
  • 为了提高英语成绩，她每周请两次家教。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tígāo Yīngyǔ chéngjì, tā měi zhōu qǐng liǎng cì jiājiào.
  • English: In order to improve her English grades, she hires a tutor twice a week.
  • Analysis: This is the most common, neutral use of `家教` as a noun meaning “private tutor.” `请家教 (qǐng jiājiào)` is the set phrase for “to hire a tutor.”
• Example 2:
  • 他在大学期间，主要靠做家教维持生活。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài dàxué qījiān, zhǔyào kào zuò jiājiào wéichí shēnghuó.
  • English: During his university years, he mainly relied on tutoring to support himself.
  • Analysis: `做家教 (zuò jiājiào)` is the standard way to say “to work as a tutor.” Here, it refers to the job or activity of tutoring.
• Example 3:
  • 那个孩子很有礼貌，一看就是有家教的。
  • Pinyin: Nàge háizi hěn yǒu lǐmào, yí kàn jiùshì yǒu jiājiào de.
  • English: That child is very polite; you can tell right away that he comes from a good upbringing.
  • Analysis: Here, `家教` refers to upbringing. `有家教 (yǒu jiājiào)` is a common phrase used to praise someone's good manners, attributing it to their family education.
• Example 4:
  • 别跟那种人来往，他太没家教了。
  • Pinyin: Bié gēn nà zhǒng rén láiwǎng, tā tài méi jiājiào le.
  • English: Don't associate with that kind of person, he has no manners (is poorly raised).
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the insult `没家教 (méi jiājiào)`. It's a very strong criticism, so use it with caution.
• Example 5:
  • 我父母的家教很严，我们从小就要自己洗碗。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ fùmǔ de jiājiào hěn yán, wǒmen cóngxiǎo jiù yào zìjǐ xǐwǎn.
  • English: My parents' method of upbringing was very strict; we had to wash our own bowls since we were little.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, `家教` is a noun for “upbringing” or “parenting style.” `家教很严 (jiājiào hěn yán)` means “the family discipline is very strict.”
• Example 6:
  • 你觉得我需要找个物理家教吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde wǒ xūyào zhǎo ge wùlǐ jiājiào ma?
  • English: Do you think I need to find a physics tutor?
  • Analysis: A simple, practical question. `找家教 (zhǎo jiājiào)` is another common way to say “to look for a tutor,” interchangeable with `请家教`.
• Example 7:
  • 家教老师说明天晚点来。
  • Pinyin: Jiājiào lǎoshī shuō míngtiān wǎndiǎn lái.
  • English: The tutor said he will come a little later tomorrow.
  • Analysis: Sometimes, `老师 (lǎoshī)` is added after `家教` to clarify that you are talking about the person (the tutor), not the concept. This is very common.
• Example 8:
  • 良好的家教对一个人的成长至关重要。
  • Pinyin: Liánghǎo de jiājiào duì yí ge rén de chéngzhǎng zhìguān guānjiàn.
  • English: A good upbringing is crucial for a person's development.
  • Analysis: A more formal and abstract use of `家教` meaning “upbringing.” `良好 (liánghǎo)` means “good” or “fine.”
• Example 9:
  • 这份家教工作每周10个小时，报酬不错。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn jiājiào gōngzuò měi zhōu shí ge xiǎoshí, bàochou búcuò.
  • English: This tutoring job is 10 hours a week, and the pay is not bad.
  • Analysis: Here, `家教工作 (jiājiào gōngzuò)` specifies a “tutoring job,” showing how `家教` can be used as an adjective.
• Example 10:
  • 他吃饭的时候发出很大的声音，真显得没家教。
  • Pinyin: Tā chīfàn de shíhou fāchū hěn dà de shēngyīn, zhēn xiǎnde méi jiājiào.
  • English: He makes loud noises when he eats; it really makes him seem like he has no upbringing.
  • Analysis: `显得 (xiǎnde)` means “to appear” or “to seem.” This sentence illustrates a specific behavior being judged as a sign of poor `家教`.

• `家教 (jiājiào)` vs. `老师 (lǎoshī)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • `老师 (lǎoshī)`: A teacher in a formal institution like a school or university. This is a respected title and profession. Your school history teacher is a `老师`.
  • `家教 (jiājiào)`: A private tutor, often hired for extra help at home. This is usually a part-time job, often held by a university student. You hire a `家教`.
  • Incorrect: `我的学校家教教得很好。` (Wǒ de xuéxiào jiājiào jiāo de hěn hǎo.)
  • Correct: `我的学校老师教得很好。` (Wǒ de xuéxiào lǎoshī jiāo de hěn hǎo.) - My school teacher teaches very well.
• The Gravity of `没家教 (méi jiājiào)`: Do not underestimate this phrase. In English, calling someone “rude” is a criticism of their action. Calling them `没家教` is a criticism of their character, their parents, and their entire family background. It's a significant insult that can escalate a conflict.
• Verb or Noun?: While primarily a noun, `家教` can function like a verb in specific patterns, as in `我妈妈家教很严` (My mom's way of raising/educating is strict). This is less common than its noun form but important to recognize.

• 老师 (lǎoshī) - A formal teacher in a school. The professional counterpart to a `家教`.
• 教育 (jiàoyù) - Education in the general, broad sense. `家教` is a specific type of `教育`.
• 补习班 (bǔxíbān) - Cram school or tutorial center. A group-based alternative to a one-on-one `家教`.
• 辅导 (fǔdǎo) - To tutor or to coach. A verb that describes the action a `家教` does (e.g., `他辅导我数学` - He tutors me in math).
• 礼貌 (lǐmào) - Politeness, manners. Having good `礼貌` is considered evidence of having good `家教`.
• 严格 (yángé) - Strict. An adjective often used to describe a parent's `家教` style.
• 高考 (gāokǎo) - The National College Entrance Examination. The cultural phenomenon that drives the massive demand for the academic `家教`.
• 家长 (jiāzhǎng) - Parents or guardians. The people who both provide `家教` (upbringing) and hire a `家教` (tutor).