居住

• Pinyin: jū zhù
• Hanzi breakdown: 居 = 尸 (body/dwelling radical) + 古 (ancient, phonetic) — to reside + 住 = 亻 (person) + 主 (master, phonetic) — to live, to stay

Meaning

To reside; to live (in a place). A formal verb for dwelling or inhabiting a location.

More formal than 住, and typically used in written Chinese, official documents, and news reports. Often collocates with 环境 (environment), 条件 (conditions), and 地区 (area). Can describe both temporary and permanent residence, but carries a sense of established living rather than a brief stay.

Examples

1. 他在北京居住了二十多年。 He has lived in Beijing for more than twenty years.
2. 这个城市的居住环境非常好。 The living environment of this city is very good.
3. 很多外国人选择在上海居住。 Many foreigners choose to live in Shanghai.

Usage Guide

Context: official documents, news, urban planning

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 请填写您目前居住的地址。(Please fill in the address where you currently reside.)
• 这里不适合居住，太吵了。(This place is not suitable for living; it's too noisy.)

Don't Say

• 我居住在他家过了一夜 (居住 implies settled, longer-term living — for a one-night stay, say 我在他家住了一夜)

Origin & History

Composed of 居 (to dwell, to reside — originally depicting a person settled in a place) and 住 (to live, to stay), both reinforcing the meaning of habitation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal