住房

• Pinyin: zhù fáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 住 = 亻(person) + 主 (master/stay); 房 = 户 (door) + 方 (square/direction)

Meaning

Housing; residential accommodation. Living quarters or the matter of having a place to live.

Often used when discussing housing policies, real estate, or living conditions rather than referring to a specific house. Common in formal and news contexts. Related phrases include 住房问题 (housing problem) and 住房价格 (housing prices).

Examples

1. 大城市的住房价格很高。 Housing prices in big cities are very high.
2. 公司为员工提供了住房。 The company provided housing for its employees.
3. 住房问题是很多年轻人关心的事情。 The housing issue is something many young people care about.

Usage Guide

Context: real estate, policy

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 这里的住房条件不错。(The housing conditions here are pretty good.)
• 住房价格越来越贵了。(Housing prices are getting more and more expensive.)

Don't Say

• 我去你的住房玩。(Don't use 住房 to refer to someone's specific home informally — say 我去你家玩. 住房 is more abstract, referring to housing in general.)

Origin & History

Compound of 住 (to live/reside) and 房 (house/room), literally 'living quarters.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal