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Kotomora

棲

live, dwell

StatusJinmeiyōStrokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • セイ

Kun'yomi

  • す.む

Nanori

  • ずみ

Meaning

棲 centers on making a place one's home: living somewhere or dwelling in a location.

Most common words using 棲

  • 同棲どうせい
    N1

    cohabitation (esp. of an unmarried couple); living together

  • 棲むすむ

    to live (of animals); to inhabit; to nest

  • 両棲動物りょうせいどうぶつ

    amphibious animal

  • 半同棲はんどうせい

    almost living together; spending most nights with one's partner

  • 幽棲ゆうせい

    living a quiet life in seclusion away from the masses

  • 旧棲きゅうせい

    old home; former home; old nest

  • 棲み分けすみわけ

    habitat isolation

  • 棲遅せいち

    living in tranquility; retiring to the countryside

  • 水清ければ魚棲まずみずきよければうおすまず

    the morally upright have a hard time making friends; fish will not live in water that is (too) clean

  • 爬虫両棲類学はちゅうりょうせいるいがく

    herpetology

  • 終の棲家ついのすみか

    one's final abode

  • 良禽は木を択んで棲むりょうきんはきをえらんですむ

    a wise retainer chooses a great lord to serve; a wise bird chooses a good tree in which to roost

  • 隠棲いんせい

    secluded life

Explore all words using 棲 →

Study

Etymology

棲 combines 木 (tree) with 妻, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of settling down, suggesting dwelling among trees or making a home.

Meaning mnemonic

A tree 木 beside a wife 妻: picture a couple building a home together under a tree, living and dwelling there.

Reading mnemonic

For セイ, imagine a couple saying 'say' their vows under the tree where they will dwell: say -> セイ.