处 chǔ / chù — to reside; to live; to dwell; to be in; to stay; get along with
这件事很难处理。Zhè jiàn shì hěn nán chǔ lǐ.This matter is hard to handle.
Common words: 到处 (dào chù)、好处 (hǎo chǔ)、坏处 (huài chu)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to dwell"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to dwell", including 处 (chǔ / chù), 住 (zhù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to dwell" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 处 (chǔ / chù), 住 (zhù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chǔ, chù, zhù — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 处 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 处 chǔ / chùto reside; to live; to dwell; to be in; to stay; get along withUseful words: 到处, 好处
- 住 zhùto live; to dwell; to reside; to stopUseful words: 记住, 住院
Common words for these 2 "to dwell" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 处 (chǔ / chù) — so "to dwell" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to dwell".
住 zhù — to live; to dwell; to reside; to stop
我住在学校附近。Wǒ zhù zài xué xiào fù jìn.I live near the school.
Common words: 记住 (jì zhu)、住院 (zhù yuàn)、住房 (zhù fáng)
All 2 characters
Open 处、住 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.