住すまい

す

ま

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

Refers to the place where someone lives. In polite or formal questions such as お住まい, it can also mean someone's residence or address.

Written forms

住すまいUsage95%
Standard common spelling for the noun meaning a dwelling, residence, or way of living.
住すまいUsage4%
Less common spelling with reduced okurigana; useful to recognize but not the safest learner spelling.
すまいUsage1%
住居すまいUsage<1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Ateji reading for すまい. The same spelling is normally read じゅうきょ, so use 住まい in ordinary writing.

Kanji

住dwell, reside, live
居reside, to be, exist

Similar words

住じゅう居きょ
A more formal noun for a residence or dwelling; unlike the rare ateji reading すまい, this is the normal reading of 住居.
住じゅう所しょ
Means a specific address. 住まい can refer to where one lives more broadly and only sometimes functions like 'address' in polite contexts.
家いえ
A very common everyday word for a house or home; 住まい sounds a little more descriptive or formal, focusing on the residence as a place of living.

Etymology

Related to 住む and 住まう, meaning to live or reside. The spelling 住まい conventionally connects the noun with residence or living; the exact historical development is not specified.