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Kotomora

居

reside, to be, exist, live with

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • キョ
  • コ

Kun'yomi

  • い.る
  • -い
  • お.る

Nanori

  • おき
  • ぐ
  • すえ

Meaning

居 centers on being settled in a place: residing, existing somewhere, or living with someone. The core idea is a stable presence rather than a temporary stay.

Most common words using 居

24 of 265
  • 居るおる
    N4

    to be (animate); to be; to exist

  • 居らっしゃるいらっしゃる
    N5

    to come; to go; to be (somewhere)

  • 居酒屋いざかや
    N3

    izakaya; tavern, bar, etc. that also serves various dishes and snacks

  • 居住きょじゅう
    N1

    residence; living (at, in); abode

  • 芝居しばい
    N3

    play; drama

  • 同居どうきょ
    N1

    living together; coexistence

  • 居場所いばしょ
    N2

    whereabouts; place; location

  • 入居にゅうきょ

    moving in (to a house, apartment, etc.); taking up residence

  • 居心地いごこち
    N2

    feeling of a house or a room

  • 住居じゅうきょ
    N2

    dwelling; house; residence; address

  • 新居しんきょ

    new home

  • 敷居しきい
    N1

    threshold (esp. one with grooves for sliding doors); sill

  • 居眠りいねむり
    N3

    nodding off (while sitting); dozing

  • 鳥居とりい
    N1

    torii (Shinto shrine archway)

  • 別居べっきょ
    N1

    separation; living separately; living apart

  • 転居てんきょ
    N2

    moving; changing residence; change of address

  • 居間いま
    N3

    living room (Western style); sitting room

  • 長居ながい

    long visit; overstaying

  • 皇居こうきょ
    N1

    Imperial Palace (of Japan); imperial residence

  • 隠居いんきょ
    N1

    retirement (from work); leading a quiet life (after retirement)

  • 紙芝居かみしばい

    kamishibai; storytelling with pictures; form of Japanese street theater and storytelling (popular from the 1930s to the 1950s)

  • 居候いそうろう

    lodger who pays nothing for room and board; freeloader; sponger

  • 雑居ざっきょ

    living together; mixed residence; sharing living quarters

  • 居室きょしつ

    living room

Explore all words using 居 →

Study

Etymology

居 combines 尸 (a person at rest or a dwelling) with 古, which likely contributes the sound. Together they suggest a person settled in a place.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 尸 looks like a person sitting down, and the bottom 古 suggests something old and established. Picture someone settling into an old, familiar home to reside.

Reading mnemonic

For キョ, imagine a person residing in Kyoto (京都, きょうと): the first syllable キョ of きょうと cues the reading キョ.