noun
sponging off someone; living rent-free
Describes the lifestyle of a 居候 (isōrō): staying at someone else's home without contributing to rent or food costs. Often carries a negative or self-deprecating tone.
就職するまで、友人の家で居候生活を送っていた。
Until I found a job, I was living rent-free at a friend's place.
居候生活が長引いて、さすがに肩身が狭い。
My freeloading lifestyle has dragged on, and I'm starting to feel really awkward about it.
Compound of 居候 (isōrō, 'freeloader') + 生活 (seikatsu, 'life, living'). 居候 itself originally referred to a person who stays at someone's house without paying, from 居 (i, 'being, staying') + 候 (sōrō, an old humble auxiliary verb).