Meaning and Usage
"同居" (どうきょ) means "living together" and is often used to describe people sharing a residence, whether family members, couples, or friends. It is a formal noun and can be used as a verb phrase when combined with する.
Common Contexts
This word is frequently used when discussing living arrangements before marriage, with elderly parents, or among roommates. It often implies a close or intentional sharing of a household.
Collocations and Patterns
- 同居する: to live together (used as a verb)
- 同居人: a person living together (roommate, cohabitant)
- 結婚前に同居する: to live together before marriage
Register and Nuance
"同居" is neutral to formal and commonly used in written and spoken Japanese. It does not inherently imply marriage but often relates to cohabitation arrangements.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "同居" with "同棲" (どうせい), which specifically refers to cohabitation of an unmarried couple, often with a romantic nuance. "同居" is broader and can include family members or friends living together.