How to say "reside" in Japanese

• 住むすむJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe everyday verb for a person living or residing in a place — a house, a city, a country. When 'reside' simply means 'live' somewhere, this is the word you want.
  あなたはどのくらいの間あいだ、神戸こうべに住すんでいますか。↗

  How long have you lived in Kobe?
• 住まうすまうCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers the same sense as 住む — to live or reside in a place — but with a somewhat more formal, literary tone; in ordinary statements about where someone lives, 住む is the natural choice.
  言葉ことばは人ひととなって、私わたしたちの間あいだに住すまわれた。↗

  The word became flesh and lived for a while among us.
• 内在ないざいCommon
  suru verb, intransitive verb, nounFor the abstract sense of 'reside (in)': a quality, power, or fault being inherent or immanent in something, typical of philosophical or analytical discussion. Not used for people or dwellings.
  言葉ことばの世界せかいでは想像力そうぞうりょくは自然しぜんに内在ないざいする力ちからの一ひとつである。↗

  In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature.
• 居留きょりゅうCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA formal, written-style word glossed 'residence; reside', but it is seldom the word you want for 'reside'; for a person living somewhere, 住む is the word to reach for.

For people living somewhere, use 「住む」 (or the more formal 「住まう」); for qualities, powers, or causes residing in something abstract, use 内在; 居留 is a marginal formal option seldom right for 'reside'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 住むすむto live (of humans)
• 住まうすまうto live
• 内在ないざいto be inherent (in)
• 居留きょりゅうresidence
• 住するじゅうするto live
• 住すじゅうすto live
• 存するそんするto consist (in)