noun HSK 4
resident · inhabitant · dweller
Meaning
居民 refers to people who live in a particular place, whether a city, neighborhood, building, or region. It's a neutral, formal term commonly used in official contexts, news reports, and everyday conversation to refer to the permanent or long-term inhabitants of an area.
Usage
This is a standard term used in both spoken and written Chinese. It appears frequently in news reports about local communities, government announcements, and housing contexts. It's more formal than 住户 (zhù hù) but less official than 公民 (gōng mín, citizen). Often used with place names: 北京居民 (Beijing residents), 小区居民 (neighborhood residents).
Examples
- 01这个小区的居民都很友好。.The residents of this neighborhood are all very friendly.
- 02政府呼吁居民节约用水。.The government is calling on residents to conserve water.
Characters
Measure words
- 位三位居民
- 名一千名居民
Common collocations
- 当地居民local residents
- 小区居民neighborhood/community residents
- 居民区residential area
- 居民楼residential building
Origin
Combines 居 (to reside) with 民 (people), literally meaning 'residing people.' Both characters have ancient origins in Classical Chinese.