Answer to the Difference Between “出门(chūmén)” and “出家(chūjiā)”

Correct Answer: A

Although the two phrases “出门(chūmén)” and “出家(chūjiā)” seem similar, their usage expresses different meanings. Having said that, which one do you think you should choose when you want to express the action of “going out,” as in “leaving the house,” in Chinese?
“出(chū),” as a verb, means to go out of and leave. “门(mén)” refers to a door. Thus, “出门(chūmén)” is a verb phrase that means to go out, go away from home, or go on a journey.

Examples:

Tiānqì hěn rè，wǒ bùxiǎng chūmén.
天气     很  热，我    不想      出门。
The weather is too hot. I don’t want to go out.

Nǐ dǎsuàn jǐdiǎn chūmén?
你  打算     几点    出门？
What time do you plan to head out?

Now, let’s take a look at the other phrase, “出家(chūjiā).” As you may know, “家(jiā)” refers to home and family. So “出家(chūjiā),” also as a verb phrase, means to leave the secular world and become a monk or nun. As a result, people often refer to monks and nuns as “出家人(chūjiārén).” Essentially, the meaning signifies that they have completely left their families and will never return.

Examples:

Tā xiǎng chūjiā.
他   想     出家。
He wants to become a monk.

Chūjiārén bùnéng chī ròu.
出家人 不能 吃 肉。
The monk (or nun) cannot eat meat.

In the above test, we want to imply that Linda goes out at 8 o’clock every day, so we use “出门(chūmén)” instead of “出家(chūjiā).” Therefore, the correct answer is A.

<<Back to “’出门(chūmén)’ vs. ‘出家(chūjiā)’- Heading Out or Leaving for Good? “