To stop, halt, or stay in one place.
To live, reside, or stay somewhere; after a verb, to hold firmly or stop moving. A person (亻) standing beside the master (主), rooted to the spot.
住
Common Usage & Traps
- 住在 — live in/at (a place) — the safe HSK 1 pattern
- 住在北京 — live in Beijing
- 住在学校 — live at school / on campus
- 住哪儿 — Where do you live? (casual)
- 我住在... — I live in/at...
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我住在中国里。我住在中国。里 is not used after a country here. 住在 + country already means you live there.
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我住在北京的家。我住在北京。Adding 的家 is redundant unless you are contrasting your Beijing home with another home.
Do you need 在 after 住?
Drop 在 in casual speech, but 住在 + place is the safe HSK 1 pattern.
Both 我住北京 and 我住在北京 are heard, but 住在 is clearer and more standard for beginners. Use 住在 when the place is long or when you want zero confusion. In fast speech, people may drop 在: 我住朝阳区. For HSK 1, say 我住在北京. It is never wrong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Short place | 我住在北京。 | 我住北京。(OK but casual) |
| Question | 你住在哪儿？ | 你住哪儿？(also common) |
| Answer | 我住在学校。 | 我住学校。(less clear) |
What's the difference between 我住北京 and 我在北京?
住 means your home base; 在 only means you are in a place right now.
我住北京 means Beijing is where you live. 我在北京 means you are currently in Beijing—maybe visiting, maybe passing through. If you want to say 'I live in Beijing', use 住在. If you just mean 'I am in Beijing', use 在.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Live there | 我住在北京。 | 我在北京。(just present) |
| Just present | 我在北京。 | 我住北京。(means live there) |
| Ask home | 你住在哪儿？ | 你在哪儿？(where are you now) |
| Ask current | 你在哪儿？ | 你住在哪儿？(where do you live) |
Appears in Stories 9 stories
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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但谢安不想做官，多次拒绝了朝廷的邀请，就 住在 会稽的东山（今天的浙江省会稽山），和朋友一起游玩。
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最厉害的是，他在淝水之战中指挥东晋军队，以八万人打败了号称百万的前秦军队， 保住 了自己的国家。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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小李 住在 美国西部的一座城市里。
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他小时候 住在 中国的东北，那里的森林也很多。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
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白天明 住在 中国的一个大学里。
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老先生对白天明说：“我八十岁了，儿子和女儿都在北京工作，我一个人 住在 这里。
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
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住 哪里？
Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.
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休息两星期，七天 住 医院医生人很好，房间大漂亮。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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我去年 住在 上海的时候，去一个汉语学校学习汉语，学了一个月。
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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马家友生病了，在医院的三号房间 住 。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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有一次他得了心脏病， 住进 医院。
Ever noticed how similar Chinese words can be? This rhyme plays with place names and homophones, from schools to hotels, even throwing in Samsung's origin. A lighthearted way to boost your word power.
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书店有好书，饭店吃和 住 ，酒店没有酒。
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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