How to say "dwell" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 宿るやどるgodan verb, intransitive verbCovers the figurative sense of 'dwell in': a spirit, soul, or quality existing within a person, place, or object. It is not the verb for where people live.
- 住むすむgodan verb, intransitive verbThe common word for 'dwell' in the sense of residing: people living or making their home in a house, town, or country. It does not cover something figuratively dwelling within.
Use 「住む」 when 'dwell' means people residing or living somewhere; use 「宿る」 for the figurative sense of a spirit, soul, or quality dwelling or existing within a person, place, or thing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
