住む

• Reading: すむ
• Romaji: sumu
• Kanji breakdown: 住 (juu/su) — to live, to reside, to dwell
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.mɯ/

Meaning

To live; to reside; to inhabit. Used to indicate where someone lives or dwells.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the む ending (住んで, 住んだ, 住みます). Takes the particle に for location (東京に住む). The ている form 住んでいます is the standard way to say where you live. Related words: 住所 (address), 住民 (resident).

Examples

1. 東京に住んでいます。 I live in Tokyo.
2. 子供の時は大阪に住んでいました。 When I was a kid, I lived in Osaka.
3. 将来どこに住みたいですか。 Where do you want to live in the future?

Usage Guide

Context: self-introduction, daily life, housing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 住 combines 亻 (person radical) with 主 (master/lord), suggesting a person established as master of a place — their home. The meaning of settling and residing has been consistent since ancient times.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal