How to Say ‘They live in Tokyo.’ in Japanese
東京に住んでいます。
toukyou ni sun de i masu
[toh-kyoh nee SOON deh ee mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: 住んでいます is how Japanese says "live (somewhere)". The place takes に: 大阪に住んでいます "live in Osaka".
Phrase Breakdown
東京に
toukyou ni
in Tokyo
東京 (toukyou) has two long 'o' sounds. に marks where someone lives.
東京に友だちがいます。
I have a friend in Tokyo.
Words in this phrase
東京
toukyou
[toh-kyoh]
Tokyo
Japan's capital city. At the airport, it often refers to a destination.
東京へ行く便を待っています。
I am waiting for a flight going to Tokyo.
に
ni
[nee]
in; at; to
A particle showing the place where something is put or exists.
荷物をこちらに置いてください。
Please put your luggage here.
住んでいます。
sun de i masu
(I / they) live.
住んでいます (sunde imasu) is the polite form for 'live / reside'. In casual speech, the 'i' after 'sunde' often sounds very light.
大阪に住んでいます。
I live in Osaka.
Words in this phrase
住ん
sun
[SOON]
live (te-form stem)
Form of sumu 'to live (reside)', changed to connect with -de.
大阪に住んでいます。
I live in Osaka.
で
de
[deh]
(te-form connector)
Part of the te-form; with iru it shows an ongoing state.
ここに住んでいます。
I live here.
い
i
[ee]
to be; ongoing state
Part of the pattern expressing a current included state.
税金もい入っています。
Tax is also included.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite non-past ending
Polite verb ending used in present or non-past forms.
対応したことがありますか。
Have you ever dealt with it?
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