Translation guide
Expressing the concept of living together in Japanese depends on the relationship and context. For romantic cohabitation, 同棲 (どうせい) is common. For sharing a living space as roommates, 同居 (どうきょ) or ルームシェア are used. General living under the same roof can be expressed with 一緒に住む (いっしょにすむ).
Living together as a romantic couple without being married.
Specifically refers to an unmarried couple living together. Commonly used in casual and formal contexts.
I'm living with my boyfriend.
It's been a year since we started living together.
A general phrase meaning 'living together'. Can be used for romantic partners but is less specific than 同棲.
I live with my girlfriend.
Living in the same house or apartment with others, not necessarily romantic.
Living together under the same roof, often used for family members or roommates. Can also apply to romantic partners but is broader.
I live with my parents.
I decided to live with a friend.
Loanword from English 'room share'. Refers specifically to sharing a rented apartment or house with non-family members, often for economic reasons.
General phrase meaning 'to live together'. Can be used in various contexts.
Describing the state of people or animals living together in a shared space or community.
A slightly more literary or formal way to say 'live together', emphasizing shared life.
A society where humans and nature live together.
Means 'to coexist' or 'live together symbiotically'. Used in biological, ecological, or sociological contexts.
A city where different cultures live together.
同棲 (どうせい) specifically implies an unmarried romantic couple living together, often with a nuance of cohabitation as a step before marriage. 同居 (どうきょ) is broader and can refer to any people living together, including family, friends, or even strangers. Using 同棲 for non-romantic roommates would be incorrect.
He's my roommate; we're not living together as a couple.
The English phrase 'living together' can be directly translated as 一緒に住んでいる, but this may sound vague or unnatural in some contexts. Choose a more specific term like 同棲 or 同居 when the relationship is clear.
東京でルームシェアを探しています。
I'm looking for a room share in Tokyo.
I'm going to live with a friend from next month.