(suffix indicating firmness, steadiness, or coming to a halt)
HSK 1, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #209, Easy
住
zhù
to reside, to live at, to dwell, to lodge; to stop
HSK 1, v, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #209, Easy
zhù(zhu4) T4
1to live
2to dwell
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March 24, 2026
住zhù(zhu4)
The character 住 (zhù) means 'to live' or 'to dwell,' commonly used to indicate where someone resides or stays. It can also imply a sense of stability or halting movement. This character is frequently encountered in daily conversations regarding living arrangements or places of residence.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#209DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of home and where one resides is deeply tied to family and social relationships. The importance of one's residence is often reflected in discussions about family gatherings and community ties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small house with a person standing still inside it. The character 住 looks like a person (the top part) standing firmly underneath a roof (the bottom part). This visual can help you remember 'live' and 'stay' as the person is living securely under the roof.
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AI Study Notes for 住
Quick Contrast
居 (jū) - use 住 (zhù) when emphasizing the act of residing in a place, whereas 居 (jū) often conveys a sense of residing or living in a more general or abstract context.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 住 with other similar verbs like 留 (liú, to stay temporarily) or 居 (jū, to reside). 住 is more permanent and typically used in a residential context. Be careful with tone; the fourth tone in zhù must be pronounced firmly to avoid confusion.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 1 word, 住 connects well with other basic verbs like 吃 (chī, to eat) and 喝 (hē, to drink). Focus on using 住 in simple sentences about your home, such as 我住在北京 (Wǒ zhù zài Běijīng - I live in Beijing) to reinforce its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly say 我住在学校 (Wǒ zhù zài xuéxiào) meaning 'I live at school.' This could imply a permanent residence, which may be misleading. Instead, specify if you are just staying temporarily, using 留 (liú) for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 住
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Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 主 represents the sound.
1The giveawayA person 亻 who hosts 主; 主 also provides the pronunciation
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 住? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 住?
Decomposition of 住
IDS Structure⿰亻主
住Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
主zhu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 住?
How to say to live in Chinese
“to live” in Chinese is住zhù
The character 住 (zhù) means 'to live' or 'to dwell,' commonly used to indicate where someone resides or stays. It can also imply a sense of stability or halting movement. This character is frequently encountered in daily conversations regarding living arrangements or places of residence.
When to use 住
Common mistakes include confusing 住 with other similar verbs like 留 (liú, to stay temporarily) or 居 (jū, to reside). 住 is more permanent and typically used in a residential context. Be careful with tone; the fourth tone in zhù must be pronounced firmly to avoid confusion.
住 or something close to it
居 (jū) - use 住 (zhù) when emphasizing the act of residing in a place, whereas 居 (jū) often conveys a sense of residing or living in a more general or abstract context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly say 我住在学校 (Wǒ zhù zài xuéxiào) meaning 'I live at school.' This could imply a permanent residence, which may be misleading. Instead, specify if you are just staying temporarily, using 留 (liú) for clarity.
Write 住
住
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Practice writing 住 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 住
住 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
