Translation guide
How to refer to a person who lives in a particular place, from a local resident to a legal resident. Japanese uses different words depending on context, formality, and whether you mean a resident of a city, a building, or a country.
To refer to someone who lives in a specific local area, like a city or neighborhood, in everyday conversation.
The most common and neutral word for 'resident' of a city, town, or area. Used in news, official contexts, and daily speech.
この町の住民は親切です。
The residents of this town are kind.
住民の声を聞く会合が開かれた。
A meeting was held to hear the residents' voices.
Often used for residents of a specific building or housing complex, like an apartment. Can also mean inhabitant in a broader sense.
このマンションの住人はペットを飼えません。
Residents of this apartment building cannot keep pets.
Formal term for a resident, often used in legal, administrative, or real estate contexts.
この地域の居住者には補助金が出ます。
Residents of this area are eligible for subsidies.
To specify someone who lives in a specific building, such as an apartment, dormitory, or house.
Commonly used for residents of apartments, condominiums, or shared housing. Implies membership in a building community.
隣の部屋の住人がうるさい。
The resident of the next room is noisy.
このアパートの住人はみんな若い。
All the residents of this apartment are young.
Specifically refers to a person who has moved into a residence, often used by landlords or in rental contexts. Focuses on the act of moving in.
To refer to someone who has legal residency status in a country, often for tax, immigration, or administrative purposes.
Means a person residing in a place, often used with a country or city name. Common in official forms and news.
日本在住の外国人
foreign residents in Japan
当地在住者は税金が免除されます。
Residents of this locality are exempt from tax.
Used in legal and tax contexts to mean a resident for tax purposes or official domicile.
Specifically means a permanent resident, someone with permanent residency status.
To distinguish between someone who lives in a place and someone who is just visiting.
Works well to contrast with tourists or outsiders. Often used in phrases like 'local residents'.
観光客ではなく、住民向けのサービスです。
This service is for residents, not tourists.
Literally 'local person', a very natural way to say 'local resident' in casual conversation.
地元の人しか知らない穴場スポット。
A hidden spot that only local residents know.
To refer to someone who holds a temporary position living at an institution, such as a hospital or university.
Loanword from English, used specifically for medical residents (doctors in training) or artists in residence.
彼は大学病院のレジデントです。
He is a resident at the university hospital.
Japanese term for a medical intern or resident, more formal than レジデント.
Used for an artist in residence.
彼女は京都の滞在アーティストとして作品を制作した。
She created works as a resident artist in Kyoto.
住民 (じゅうみん) is the most general and common word for a resident of an area. 住人 (じゅうにん) often implies a resident of a specific building or housing unit. 居住者 (きょじゅうしゃ) is formal and used in legal or administrative contexts.
この町の住民は約1万人です。
The population of this town is about 10,000 residents.
マンションの住人が集まって会議をした。
The apartment residents gathered for a meeting.
居住者登録が必要です。
Resident registration is required.
The loanword レジデント is only used for specific institutional roles like medical residents or artists in residence. Using it to mean a resident of a city sounds unnatural.
We are looking for new residents (tenants).
You will be treated as a resident for tax purposes.
彼は日本の永住者です。
He is a permanent resident of Japan.
研修医として3年間働いた。
I worked as a resident for three years.