居
居·reside, to be, exist
- On-yomi
- きょこ
- Kun-yomi
- い.る-いお.る
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 居る | いる | to be (of people and animals) |
| 居間 | いま | living room |
| 芝居 | しばい | play, drama |
| 住居 | じゅうきょ | dwelling, residence |
Example sentences
家族は居間でテレビを見ています。
かぞくはいまでテレビをみています。
My family is watching TV in the living room.
週末に友達と芝居を見に行きました。
しゅうまつにともだちとしばいをみにいきました。
I went to see a play with a friend at the weekend.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 居間 as きょま instead of いま
- Writing いる as 居る in everyday text — the kana form is far more common
Memory aid
Picture it
尸 (a body bent to sit) over 古 (old): settled in the same old spot — staying, residing.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 芝居しばいplay, drama
- 居間いまliving room
- 居眠りいねむりdozing off, nodding off (while sitting)
- 居るいるto be, to exist (people and animals)
- 敷居しきいthreshold, doorsill
- 同居するどうきょするto live together
- 別居するべっきょするto live apart
- 転居するてんきょするto move (residence), to change address
- 住居じゅうきょdwelling, residence, housing
- 転居てんきょmoving, change of residence
- 鳥居とりいtorii; the gateway arch at the entrance to a Shinto shrine
- 隠居いんきょretirement (from active life); a retired person
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 居 mean?