农户 (nónghù) literally combines 农 (nóng), meaning 'agriculture' or 'farming', and 户 (hù), meaning 'household' or 'family unit'. Together, it refers to a rural family that engages in farming as its primary livelihood — typically owning or leasing land and cultivating crops or raising livestock. It emphasizes the household as the basic economic and social unit in China’s agrarian system.

The term is widely used in policy, statistics, and rural development contexts — for example, when discussing agricultural subsidies, poverty alleviation programs, or land reform. Unlike generic terms like 'farmer' (农民), which refers to individuals, 农户 highlights the collective, family-based nature of farm operations in China. It often appears in official documents, news reports, and socioeconomic research focusing on rural communities and their living conditions.