Translation and Meaning of: 住 - jyuu

The Japanese word 住[じゅう] is an essential term for anyone studying the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is related to housing, residence, and dwelling, but its use goes beyond the literal sense. In this article, we will explore everything from the origin and writing of the kanji to practical examples of how it appears in everyday Japanese life. If you want to understand how this word is used in real contexts, keep reading!

In addition to being a common word in everyday conversations, 住[じゅう] also makes up important expressions and reveals aspects of Japanese society. Here at Suki Nihongo, we aim to provide accurate and useful information for your learning. Let's uncover curiosities, memorization tips, and even how this term appears in media such as animes and dramas.

Meaning and usage of 住[じゅう]

The kanji 住 is formed by the radicals 亻 (left side, indicating person) and 主 (right side, associated with "master" or "principal"). Together, they convey the idea of a "place where someone resides." The reading じゅう (jū) is often used in compound words, such as 住所 (jūsho - address) or 住宅 (jūtaku - residence).

In everyday contexts, this term appears in formal and informal situations. For example, when filling out a form in Japan, it's common to see fields with 住まいの地域 (sumai no chiiki - area of residence). In casual conversations, someone might ask どこに住んでいますか? (doko ni sunde imasu ka? - where do you live?).

Cultural curiosities about housing in Japan

The concept of housing in Japan goes beyond the simple word 住. Japanese culture has interesting peculiarities related to residences, such as the traditional 間取り (madori - house layout), which prioritizes multifunctional spaces. The term 住まい (sumai) also reflects the Japanese view of home as a space in harmony with nature.

In Tokyo, where space is limited, creative solutions such as カプセルホテル (kapuseru hoteru - capsule hotels) have emerged, showcasing how Japan adapts the concept of living to urban needs. These innovations keep alive the essence of 住 as a place of rest and privacy, even in compact environments.

Tips for memorizing and using 住[じゅう]

An effective way to memorize this kanji is to associate its components: imagine a person (亻) who is a master (主) in their own home. To practice reading, create flashcards with words such as 住民 (jūmin - resident) and 住居 (jūkyo - housing). Apps like Anki can help in this process.

Another valuable tip is to pay attention to this kanji in animes and dramas that depict domestic settings. Series like "Sazae-san" or "Chibi Maruko-chan" often include dialogues about housing, providing authentic examples of the use of 住 in natural contexts. This cultural immersion makes learning more meaningful.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

  • 居住 (Kyoju) - Residence, the act of living in a place.
  • 住居 (Jukyo) - Residence, domicile, place where one lives.
  • 住まい (Sumai) - Home, place where one resides.
  • 住所 (Jusho) - Address, place of residence.
  • 住宅 (Jutaku) - Housing, residential building.
  • 住居地 (Jukyochi) - Place of residence, area where a person lives.
  • 住まう (Sumau) - To live, to inhabit, to reside in a place.
  • 住処 (Sumika) - Refuge, a place where one lives, home.
  • 住家 (Sumiie) - House, home, place of residence.
  • 住民 (Jumin) - Inhabitants, residents of an area.
  • 住人 (Judin) - Resident, a person who resides in a specific place.
  • 住まいる (Sumairu) - To live, to be at home; the focus is more on a cozy environment.
  • 住ませる (Sumaseru) - To cause someone to live, to allow someone to reside.
  • 住まわせる (Sumawaseteru) - Allowing or forcing someone to live in a place.
  • 住まいにする (Sumai ni suru) - Make a place a home.
  • 住まいを定める (Sumai wo sadameru) - Define a place of residence.
  • 住まいを構える (Sumai wo kamaeru) - Establish a home, build a house.
  • 住まいを移す (Sumai wo utsusu) - Changing residence, relocating home.
  • 住まいを設ける (Sumai wo moekeru) - Establish a place to live.
  • 住まいを提供する (Sumai wo teikyou suru) - Offer or provide a residence.
  • 住まいを借りる (Sumai wo kariru) - Alugar uma residência.
  • 住まいを買う (Sumai wo kau) - Buy a house or residence.
  • 住まいを売る (Sumai wo uru) - Sell a house or residence.
  • 住まいを改装する (Sumai wo kaisou suru) - Renovating or remodeling a house.
  • 住まいを建てる (Sumai wo tateru) - Build a house or residence.

Related words

移住

ijyuu

migration; immigration

衣食住

ishokujyuu

basic necessities of life (food, clothing, etc.)

住む

sumu

fulfill; reside; live; dwell; inhabit

住まい

sumai

housing; house; residence; address

住宅

jyuutaku

resident; housing

住民

jyuumin

citizens; population; residents; population; population

住居

jyuukyo

housing; house; residence; address

住所

jyuusho

address (for example, home); residence; domicile

居住

kyojyuu

residence

ie

house

Romaji: jyuu
Kana: じゅう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: living; living

Meaning in English: dwelling;living

Definition: Settle down in a place to live.

Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

How to Write in Japanese - (住) jyuu

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (住) jyuu:

Example Sentences - (住) jyuu

See below some example sentences:

衣食住は人間の三大欲求です。

Ishokujuu wa ningen no sandai yokkyuu desu

Clothing

Clothing and shelter are the three main needs of human beings.

  • 衣食住 - clothing, food, and housing
  • は - Topic particle
  • 人間 - Human being
  • の - Possession particle
  • 三 - three
  • 大 - large
  • 欲求 - desire, necessity
  • です - Verb to be/estar in the present
住宅は私たちの人生の中で最も大きな買い物の一つです。

Jūtaku wa watashitachi no jinsei no naka de mottomo ōkina kaimono no hitotsu desu

A house is one of the biggest purchases in our lives.

Housing is one of the biggest purchases in our lives.

  • 住宅 (juutaku) - house, residence
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 私たち (watashitachi) - we, our
  • の (no) - Possession particle
  • 人生 (jinsei) - life
  • の中で (no naka de) - Inside of
  • 最も (mottomo) - the most, the most important
  • 大きな (ookina) - large
  • 買い物 (kaimono) - purchase, purchase of goods
  • の (no) - Possession particle
  • 一つ (hitotsu) - one of the
  • です (desu) - verb to be, to stay
仙人は山に住んでいます。

Sennin wa yama ni sunde imasu

Hermits live in the mountains.

Sennin lives in the mountains.

  • 仙人 - a word in Japanese that means "hermit" or "immortal sage."
  • は - a grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence.
  • 山 - a word in Japanese that means "mountain".
  • に - a grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the location of the action.
  • 住んでいます - a Japanese expression that means "to live" or "to reside".
不便な場所に住んでいる。

Fuben na basho ni sunde iru

I'm living in an inconvenient place.

I live in an inconvenient place.

  • 不便な - adjective that means "inconvenient" or "uncomfortable"
  • 場所 - noun that means "place" or "local"
  • に - particle that indicates the location of the action
  • 住んでいる - verb that means "to live" or "to reside," conjugated in the present continuous
古い建物がたくさんある町に住んでいます。

Furui tatemono ga takusan aru machi ni sunde imasu

I live in a city with many old buildings.

I live in a city with many old buildings.

  • 古い - old
  • 建物 - buildings
  • が - subject particle
  • たくさん - many
  • ある - there are
  • 町 - city
  • に - Location particle
  • 住んでいます - I live
団地に住んでいます。

Danchi ni sunde imasu

I live in a housing project.

I live in a housing complex.

  • 団地 (danchi) - housing development
  • に (ni) - particle indicating location
  • 住んでいます (sundeimasu) - living/currently residing
田舎に住むのは静かでいいです。

Inaka ni sumu no wa shizuka de ii desu

Living in the countryside is peaceful and good.

Living in the countryside is peaceful and good.

  • 田舎 - "Inaka" - "Countryside" It means "field" or "rural area" in Japanese.
  • に - "to" a Japanese particle that indicates the location of something.
  • 住む - "to live" a Japanese verb that means "to live" or "to reside".
  • のは - "no wa" - "of" a Japanese grammatical construction that indicates the topic of the sentence.
  • 静か - "quiet" A Japanese adjective that means "quiet" or "calm" is 静か (shizuka).
  • で - "of" a Japanese particle that indicates the condition or situation in which something occurs.
  • いい - "good" A Japanese adjective that means "good" or "pleasant".
  • です - desu - One polite way to say "to be" or "to exist" in Japanese is "です" (desu).
私は島に住んでいます。

Watashi wa shima ni sunde imasu

I live on an island.

I live on the island.

  • 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
  • は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
  • 島 (shima) - noun meaning "island"
  • に (ni) - location particle that indicates where something is
  • 住んでいます (sundeimasu) - verb that means "to live" conjugated in the polite present
私は東京に住んでいます。

Watashi wa Tokyo ni sumu nde imasu

I live in Tokyo.

  • 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
  • は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
  • 東京 (Tōkyō) - Tokyo city name
  • に (ni) - particle indicating location, in this case "in"
  • 住んでいます (sunde imasu) - verb meaning "to live" in the present continuous polite
私は日本の郡に住んでいます。

Watashi wa Nihon no gun ni sunde imasu

I live in a county in Japan.

I live in a Japanese county.

  • 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
  • は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
  • 日本 (nihon) - proper name meaning "Japan"
  • の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
  • 郡 (gun) - noun that means "county"
  • に (ni) - particle that indicates the action of being in a place
  • 住んでいます (sundeimasu) - verb that means "to live"

Other Words of this Type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

住