Usage of 住
The character 住 primarily means "to live" or "to reside" in a place. It is commonly used to indicate where someone lives or stays for a period of time.
Common contexts
住 is often followed by a location, introduced by the preposition 在 (zài), e.g., 住在北京 (live in Beijing). It can also be used to talk about temporary stays, such as in hotels or guesthouses.
Collocations and patterns
Nuances
住 emphasizes the act of residing or staying, whether permanent or temporary. It differs from verbs like "去" (to go) or "来" (to come) by focusing on the location of residence. When asking about someone's address, 住 is the natural choice.
Common confusion
Don't confuse 住 with 住下 (to settle down) or 住宿 (accommodation), which are related but have more specific meanings. 住 alone is more general and widely used in daily conversation.