Some experts asked why it is pig in the character not other animals, like Cow or Goat? Simple, it is easy to raise pigs than cows and goats because pig is docile, omnivorous, growing fast.家 (jiā, "home/family") = Roof + Pig
The component 宝盖 (the "roof" radical) represents a pigsty or shelter, while 豕 means "pig." Together, the character depicts a pig being kept under a roof—that is, a domesticated pig raised by humans.
Why does raising pigs represent a home?
In the earliest times, people survived through hunting and gathering. They could not remain in one place permanently; they had to follow wild animals wherever they could find them. Once people learned how to raise pigs, however, they were no longer completely dependent on hunting for meat. This made it possible to settle down and establish permanent homes. Therefore, our ancestors used the image of a domesticated pig under a roof to express the idea of a home or household.
In this artwork, there are five forms of the character 家, and every one of them consists of a roof above the character 豕, meaning "pig." See if you can identify them all.
Shell Bone Script (甲骨文) — top
Bronze Script (金文) — middle left. The pig is the easiest to recognize in this form.
Big Seal Script (大篆) — middle right
Small Seal Script (小篆) — bottom left
Clerical Script (隶书) — bottom right
