also: いえじゅう · かちゅう
noun
whole family; all the family
Refers to every member of a family, often used when the whole family does something together.
週末は家中で映画を見る。
On weekends, the whole family watches a movie together.
家中が彼の帰りを待っていた。
The entire family was waiting for his return.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
all over the house; throughout the house
Describes something happening or being spread everywhere inside the house.
家中を掃除した。
I cleaned all over the house.
カレーの匂いが家中に広がった。
The smell of curry spread throughout the house.
noun
retainer of a daimyo; feudal domain; clan
Only with reading かちゅう
Historical term; refers to a samurai retainer serving a daimyo, or the domain/clan itself. Only used with the reading かちゅう.
江戸時代、家中は主君に忠誠を誓った。
In the Edo period, retainers swore loyalty to their lord.
Historical reading for the feudal retainer sense.
Compound of 家 (house, family) and 中 (inside, throughout). The reading うちじゅう uses the native Japanese reading for 家, while いえじゅう is an alternate native reading. The historical reading かちゅう uses the Sino-Japanese reading and refers specifically to a feudal retainer or domain.