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What is the Kanji for 'Reside' and 'Be'? | 居

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Reside' and 'Be', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Reside' and 'Be' is 居.

    kanji

    居

    Meaning

    Reside, Be

    Reading

    kunyomiい

    i

    onyomiきょ

    kyo

    Parts

    尸Corpse 古Old

    Example Word

    芝居: play or act. The Japanese noun '芝居 (しばい)' primarily refers to a theatrical play or drama performed on stage. It can also mean 'acting' or 'pretending' in a broader sense, often used to describe someone's behavior when they are putting on an act or being insincere. For example: I watched a play at the theater「劇場で芝居を見た」(げきじょうでしばいをみた). He's just putting on an act「彼はただ芝居をしている」(かれはただしばいをしている). The word can also be used metaphorically to describe situations where someone is being dramatic or exaggerating their emotions.

    Radical

    尸

    Stroke Count

    8

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    5

    Frequency

    51

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 居

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    尸

    Meaning

    Corpse

    kanji

    古

    Meaning

    Old

居 As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of 2 other kanji:

    kanji

    据

    Meaning

    Set, Install

    kanji

    裾

    Meaning

    Hem

Words Using 居

This kanji is used in 7 words:

    word

    居る

    Meaning

    Exist

    word

    住居

    Meaning

    Residence

    word

    居住

    Meaning

    Residence

    word

    芝居

    Meaning

    Play, Act

    word

    居眠り

    Meaning

    Doze

    word

    居間

    Meaning

    Living room

    word

    同居

    Meaning

    Cohabitation

Kanji Related to 居 Through the Part 尸

These 21 kanji contain the part 尸 as well.

    kanji

    戸

    Meaning

    Door

    kanji

    声

    Meaning

    Voice

    kanji

    屋

    Meaning

    Shop, Roof

    kanji

    遅

    Meaning

    Slow, Late

    kanji

    局

    Meaning

    Bureau

    kanji

    屈

    Meaning

    Crouch, Yield

    kanji

    尺

    Meaning

    Foot

    kanji

    届

    Meaning

    Report, Deliver

    kanji

    刷

    Meaning

    Printing

    kanji

    属

    Meaning

    Belong

    kanji

    展

    Meaning

    Unfold, Expand

    kanji

    殿

    Meaning

    Palace, Formal honorific title

    kanji

    倉

    Meaning

    Warehouse

    kanji

    漏

    Meaning

    Leak

    kanji

    履

    Meaning

    Fulfill, Footgear

    kanji

    尾

    Meaning

    End, Tail

    kanji

    尿

    Meaning

    Urine, Pee

    kanji

    層

    Meaning

    Layer

    kanji

    尼

    Meaning

    Nun, Priestess

    kanji

    尉

    Meaning

    Company officer, Military officer

    kanji

    尻

    Meaning

    Butt, Buttocks

Kanji Related to 居 Through the Part 古

These 6 kanji contain the part 古 as well.

    kanji

    苦

    Meaning

    Suffer

    kanji

    固

    Meaning

    Hard

    kanji

    故

    Meaning

    Reason, Deceased

    kanji

    枯

    Meaning

    Wither

    kanji

    克

    Meaning

    Overcome

    kanji

    享

    Meaning

    Receive

Learn the Kanji 居

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 居 mean?

居 means 'Reside' and 'Be'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Fifth Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.