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.
The residents of this town are kind.
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.
Residents of this apartment building cannot keep pets.
Formal term for a resident, often used in legal, administrative, or real estate contexts.
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.
The resident of the next room is noisy.
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.
foreign residents in Japan
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'.
This service is for residents, not tourists.
Literally 'local person', a very natural way to say 'local resident' in casual conversation.
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.
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.
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.
The population of this town is about 10,000 residents.
The apartment residents gathered for a meeting.
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.
All the residents of this apartment are young.
新しい入居者を募集しています。
We are looking for new residents (tenants).
税法上の居住者として扱われます。
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.
She created works as a resident artist in Kyoto.