住处

• Pinyin: zhù chù
• Hanzi breakdown: 住 = 亻 + 主 (reside); 处 = 夂 + 几 (place)

Meaning

Residence; dwelling; place to live. A location where someone lives or stays.

A neutral term for any place someone resides, whether permanent or temporary. More formal than 住的地方 but less formal than 住所. Common in official documents, inquiries, and general conversation about living arrangements.

Examples

1. 他在北京还没有固定的住处。 He still doesn’t have a permanent place to live in Beijing.
2. 请告诉我您的临时住处。 Please tell me your temporary address.
3. 她搬到新住处已经一个月了。 It’s been a month since she moved into her new place.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, official, inquiry

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你能告诉我他的住处在哪里吗?(Can you tell me where his residence is?)
• 公司为外派员工提供临时住处。(The company provides temporary housing for expatriate employees.)

Don't Say

• 住处很好吃 — 住处 is a place, not something edible

Origin & History

住 (to live, reside) + 处 (place)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal