Looking up...
住
zhù
live in
我住在北京。
I live in Beijing.
neutral
To live in a place; to reside.
他住在上海。
He lives in Shanghai.
我们住在一栋大房子里。
We live in a big house.
Used with a location (e.g., city, house) as the object. Often paired with 在 (zài) to indicate the place of residence.
literary
To stop moving; to halt.
风停了，云也住了。
The wind stopped, and the clouds halted.
Rarely used in modern Mandarin; more common in classical Chinese.
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Using '住' for temporary stays
Avoid using 住 for short-term stays like hotels or visits. Use 住宿 (zhùsù) for overnight stays or 待 (dāi) for brief visits.
Gold Rule
Structure: 住 + Location
The verb 住 must be followed by a location (e.g., 我住在上海). Omitting the location makes the sentence incomplete.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 侏 (OC *tjo), indicating 'to stay' or 'to reside'. The modern form 住 emerged during the Han Dynasty.
Usage Notes
住 is the most common verb for 'live in' in Mandarin. It is typically followed by a location (e.g., city, street, or building). For temporary stays, 待 (dāi) or 停留 (tíngliú) may be used instead.
Word Breakdown
亻
person radical, indicating human-related actions
root主
to control/maintain
root汉英词典