宅

• Primary: The physical site of habitation, including the property and the social or legal status associated with the residence.
• Funerary: A euphemism for a grave or tomb (the "final residence").
• Connotative: In specific contexts—particularly regarding women or those under restriction—it can imply confinement or the boundaries of the inner quarters.

• Noun: Standard function.
• Verb: Occasionally functions as "to dwell" or "to settle," though less common than 住 (zhù). In verbal positions, it may be rendered as "to make one's home at."

• vs 家 (jiā): 宅 emphasizes the physical site and property; 家 emphasizes the family unit, lineage, or emotional concept of home.
• vs 屋 (wū): 屋 refers to the concrete physical structure, room, or roof.
• vs 舍 (shè): 舍 often denotes a temporary dwelling, lodge, or dormitory.
• vs 邸 (dǐ): 邸 typically refers to a grand residence associated with official rank or aristocracy (though the two overlap in the compound 宅邸).

Tang-period reading: *djhæk.

Determine whether the text emphasizes the physical property/location (as opposed to the family unit 家) or the structural components (as opposed to the building 屋). Always verify if the context suggests a residence for the living or the dead.