搬家 (bān jiā) literally means 'to move (bān) home (jiā)' and functions as a verb meaning 'to move house' — that is, to relocate one’s residence, typically with all personal belongings. It emphasizes the physical act of transferring household items and settling into a new dwelling. The character 搬 conveys lifting, carrying, or relocating something, while 家 refers specifically to 'home' or 'household', not just any building — so 搬家 implies moving one’s domestic life, not merely changing office space or traveling.

This term is used in everyday spoken and written Chinese for residential relocations, whether across town or to another city. It commonly appears in contexts like planning logistics ('We need to hire movers'), discussing timing ('When are you moving?'), or sharing life updates ('My sister moved house last month'). It does not apply to temporary stays, hotel changes, or business relocations unless those involve setting up a new permanent residence.