滞在

• Reading: たいざい
• Romaji: taizai
• Kanji breakdown: 滞 (tai) — stagnate, linger; 在 (zai) — be at, exist
• Pronunciation: /ta.i.za.i/

Meaning

Stay; sojourn. Remaining in a place for a period of time, especially when travelling.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (滞在する). Primarily used for travel and temporary residence: 滞在期間 (length of stay), 滞在先 (place of stay), 長期滞在 (long-term stay). More formal than 泊まる (to stay overnight). Often appears on immigration forms and in hotel contexts.

Examples

1. 東京に三日間滞在する予定です。 I plan to stay in Tokyo for three days.
2. 海外での滞在期間は半年だった。 My stay abroad lasted six months.
3. 滞在先のホテルはとても快適だった。 The hotel where I stayed was very comfortable.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, immigration, hotels

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 滞 (tai, to stagnate/linger) and 在 (zai, to be at). Together, 'lingering at a place' — remaining somewhere temporarily.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal