Readings: キョ (Onyomi), い, お (Kunyomi)
Meaning: to be (animate), to exist, reside, live, inhabit
The radical 尸 (shikabane), meaning “corpse” or “body,” often represents things related to a body or shelter. The right part, 古 (ko), meaning “old” or “ancient,” serves as a phonetic component. Together, the kanji depicts a body being in a settled or permanent place, hence conveying the meaning “to reside” or “to be.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 居 starts with the left radical 尸. First, a horizontal stroke across the top left, then a vertical stroke descending on the left side, curving slightly right at the bottom. Then, for the right part (古), begin with a horizontal stroke, followed by a vertical stroke intersecting it. Next, a short horizontal stroke at the bottom, then a vertical stroke through the center, and finally, a horizontal stroke closing the bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 尸 (しかばね) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キョ (Kyo)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- い (i)
- お (o)
Common Words Using 居
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 居住 | きょじゅう | residence, dwelling |
| 同居 | どうきょ | living together, cohabitation |
| 転居 | てんきょ | changing residence, moving |
| 入居 | にゅうきょ | moving in, occupancy |
| 居留 | きょりゅう | residence, stay (e.g., in a foreign country) |
| 居宅 | きょたく | dwelling house, residence |
| 居所 | きょしょ | dwelling, address |
| 定居 | ていきょ | settling down, permanent residence |
| 隠居 | いんきょ | retirement, living in seclusion |
| 退居 | たいきょ | moving out, vacating |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 居る | いる | to be (animate), to exist |
| 居る | おる | to be (humble), to exist (humble) |
| 居間 | いま | living room |
| 居眠り | いねむり | dozing, napping |
| 居心地 | いごこち | comfort, coziness |
| 居酒屋 | いざかや | Japanese style pub |
| 居場所 | いばしょ | whereabouts, place where one belongs |
| 居残る | いのこる | to stay behind, to remain |
| 居座る | いすわる | to stay put, to sit tight |
| 居直る | いなおる | to sit up straight, to assume a defiant attitude |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は今、家に居ます。
Kana: かれは いま、いえに います。
Romaji: Kare wa ima, ie ni imasu.
English: He is at home now.
Japanese: 私の犬はいつも私の隣に居る。
Kana: わたしの いぬは いつも わたしの となりに いる。
Romaji: Watashi no inu wa itsumo watashi no tonari ni iru.
English: My dog is always beside me.
Japanese: 居間は家族が集まる場所です。
Kana: いまは かぞくが あつまる ばしょです。
Romaji: Ima wa kazoku ga atsumaru basho desu.
English: The living room is where the family gathers.
Japanese: 彼は会議中に居眠りをしてしまった。
Kana: かれは かいぎちゅうに いねむりをしてしまった。
Romaji: Kare wa kaigi-chū ni inemuri o shite shimatta.
English: He fell asleep during the meeting.
Japanese: このカフェはとても居心地が良い。
Kana: この カフェは とても いごこちが いい。
Romaji: Kono kafe wa totemo igokochi ga ii.
English: This cafe is very cozy.
Japanese: 私たちはよく居酒屋へ行く。
Kana: わたしたちは よく いざかやへ いく。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa yoku izakaya e iku.
English: We often go to an izakaya.
Japanese: ここに自分の居場所があると感じる。
Kana: ここに じぶんの いばしょが あると かんじる。
Romaji: Koko ni jibun no ibasho ga aru to kanjiru.
English: I feel like I belong here.
Japanese: 彼は遅くまで会社に居残った。
Kana: かれは おそくまで かいしゃに いのこった。
Romaji: Kare wa osoku made kaisha ni inokotta.
English: He stayed behind at the company until late.
Japanese: 彼らは新しいアパートで同居を始めた。
Kana: かれらは あたらしい アパートで どうきょを はじめた。
Romaji: Karera wa atarashii apāto de dōkyo o hajimeta.
English: They started living together in a new apartment.
Japanese: 彼女は大阪から東京へ転居しました。
Kana: かのじょは おおさかから とうきょうへ てんきょしました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa Ōsaka kara Tōkyō e tenkyo shimashita.
English: She moved from Osaka to Tokyo.
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