() — to reside, to live (in a place; formal); to occupy (a position, a role); to claim, to assert (credit, achievement)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to reside' or 'to occupy' (a place or position) — rare in everyday speech, where 住 is used instead. Also used in set phrases like 居功 to claim credit.

verb
to resideto live (in a place; formal)to occupy (a position, a role)to claimto assert (credit, achievement)

Examples

  • Tā jū yú shàng hǎi, dàn jīng cháng chū chāi.
    He resides in Shanghai but often travels on business.
  • Zhè wèi xué zhě jū xué shù jiè de zhòng yào dì wèi.
    This scholar occupies an important position in academia.
  • Tā cóng bù jū gōng zì ào.
    He never claims credit and becomes arrogant.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

居 is built from 尸 as the meaning part and 古 (gǔ) as the sound part.

Appears in

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