居住

きょじゅう

residence

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"居住" (きょじゅう) refers to the act or state of living or residing in a place. It is a formal noun often used in official or legal contexts, such as in documents about residence status or address registration.

Common Contexts

You will frequently see "居住" in administrative paperwork, immigration discussions, or formal announcements about where people live. It is less common in casual conversation, where simpler words like "住む" (to live) or "住んでいる" are preferred.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 居住地 (きょじゅうち): place of residence; used in official forms and legal contexts.
  • 居住者 (きょじゅうしゃ): resident; refers to a person living in a certain area.
  • 居住許可 (きょじゅうきょか): residence permit; used in immigration and legal documents.

Register and Nuance

"居住" carries a formal tone and is often found in written language rather than spoken. When using it, the speaker implies a focus on the legal or official aspect of living somewhere rather than the casual idea of "living".

Common Mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "居住" with the verb "住む". Remember that "居住" is a noun and used in formal contexts, while "住む" is a verb used in everyday speech. Avoid using "居住" in casual conversation to sound natural.

Example Sentences

にほんにながきかんきょじゅうしています。

I have been residing in Japan for a long time.

きょじゅうちのへんこうはやくしょにとどけでなければなりません。

You must report any change of residence to the municipal office.

このちいきはがいこくじんのきょじゅうしゃがおおいです。

This area has many foreign residents.