“To live” in Japanese is 住む (すむ), pronounced sumu.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To live somewhere, almost always as 住んでいます. The place takes に.
Example sentences
- どこに住んでいますか。どこにすんでいますか。Where do you live?
- 大阪に住んでいます。おおさかにすんでいます。I live in Osaka.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 住む. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 住む すむ | live |
| Polite present | 住みます すみます | live |
| Polite negative | 住みません すみません | don’t live |
| Polite past | 住みました すみました | past of “live” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 住まない すまない | don’t live (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 住んだ すんだ | past of “live” (casual) |
| て-form | 住んで すんで | live and… / please live (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 住みたい すみたい | want to live |
Quick practice
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Related words: Everyday verbs
FAQ
How do you say to live in Japanese?
To live in Japanese is 住む (すむ), pronounced “sumu”.
How do you write to live in Japanese?
It's written 住む with kanji, or すむ in hiragana. Both are read sumu.
Is 住む on the JLPT?
Yes. 住む (sumu) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.