‘入宅’ literally means ‘enter residence’ and functions as a formal, written verb meaning ‘to move into a new home or residence.’ The character 入 (rù) means ‘to enter,’ while 宅 (zhái) means ‘residence’ or ‘dwelling’—a classical and respectful term for one’s home, often used in official documents, real estate contexts, or ceremonial announcements. Unlike the colloquial phrase 搬家 (bān jiā, ‘to move house’), 入宅 carries connotations of auspiciousness, stability, and formality, and is frequently used in traditional housewarming rituals, property handover notices, or news reports about new housing developments.

This term is rarely used in casual speech; native speakers typically say 搬进新家 (bān jìn xīn jiā) or just 搬家 in everyday conversation. 入宅 appears most often in written materials—such as government notices, real estate brochures, or wedding-related housing announcements—and may be paired with auspicious phrases like ‘吉日入宅’ (jí rì rù zhái, ‘move in on an auspicious day’).