定居

• Pinyin: dìng jū
• Hanzi breakdown: 定 = 宀 + 正 (to fix, settle); 居 = 尸 + 古 (to reside, dwell — originally depicting someone sheltering)

Meaning

To settle; to establish a permanent home. The act of choosing a location and making it one's long-term or permanent place of residence.

Implies a deliberate, lasting relocation — not temporary residence or a visit. Often used in contexts of immigration, retirement, or major life decisions. Frequently appears in formal documents, legal filings, and biographical writing.

Examples

1. 他在海外工作多年后，最终选择回国定居，陪伴年迈的父母。 After working overseas for many years, he ultimately chose to return home and settle down to be with his elderly parents.
2. 许多年轻人因工作机会集中而选择在一线城市定居，远离故乡。 Many young people choose to settle in top-tier cities because job opportunities are concentrated there, far from their hometowns.
3. 她毕业后移民加拿大，并在温哥华正式定居，开始了新的生活。 After graduating, she immigrated to Canada and officially settled in Vancouver, starting a new life.

Usage Guide

Context: immigration, life decisions, relocation, formal documents

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他们一家人在当地定居已有二十年，早已融入了社区生活。(The family has been settled locally for twenty years and has long since integrated into community life.)
• 选择在哪里定居是人生中的重大决定，需要综合考虑工作、教育和生活成本等多重因素。(Choosing where to settle permanently is a major life decision that requires weighing multiple factors including work, education, and cost of living.)

Don't Say

• 我今晚定居在这里 — use 我今晚住在这里 for overnight stays; 定居 implies permanent settlement, not temporary accommodation

Origin & History

定 (settle/decide) + 居 (reside/live)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal