live / reside
N4- Onyomi
- ジュウ
- Kunyomi
- す(む)
- Stroke count
- 7
- JLPT
- N4
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 住 down and you get 亻 (person) — a person standing at the left of the scene, and beside it 主 (master / main) — a lamp on its stand, the room built round it. Picture a person sitting cross-legged on the ground, put 住 inside it, and let that scene stand for "live" — live / reside. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 7
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は7画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 7 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
移住
ijuu
migration
定住
teijuu
permanent residence
住む
sumu
to live (reside)
住んで
sunde
live (reside) — te-form
住みます
sumimasu
live (reside) — polite present
定住した
teijuushita
plain past: did permanent residence
Example sentences (3)
私は東京に住んでいます。
わたし は とうきょう に すんでいます。
watashi wa toukyou ni sundeimasu.
I live in Tokyo.
家族は今、国に住んでいます。
かぞく は いま、くに に すんでいます。
kazoku wa ima, kuni ni sundeimasu.
My family lives in my home country now.
家族と離れて住んでいるので、ときどき寂しくなります。
かぞく と はなれて すんでいる ので、ときどき さびしく なります。
kazoku to hanarete sundeiru node, tokidoki sabishiku narimasu.
I live apart from my family, so sometimes I get lonely.