Translation guide
Expresses the idea of living or dwelling in a place. Japanese distinguishes between permanent residence, temporary stays, and formal/legal domicile. The most common everyday word is 住む (sumu).
Where do you live?
To say where one lives as a home, typically for a long period.
The standard verb for 'to live' or 'reside' in a place. Used for one's home or permanent dwelling.
私は東京に住んでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
He lives in the suburbs.
A formal term for residing, often used in legal or official contexts.
Foreigners can reside in this area.
Used to indicate residing in a place, often seen in profiles or news articles. More formal than 住む.
He currently resides in London.
To indicate a temporary stay, such as at a hotel or while traveling.
To refer to one's registered address or legal place of residence.
住む (sumu) is for permanent or long-term residence. 滞在する (taizai suru) is for temporary stays of days or weeks. 泊まる (tomaru) is specifically for overnight stays.
I live in Japan.
I am staying in Japan (temporarily).
I stayed at a hotel (overnight).
Using 住む for a hotel stay or a short visit sounds unnatural. Use 滞在する or 泊まる instead.
I stayed at my friend's house.
Please fill in your current address.