How to Say ‘I live in Tokyo.’ in Japanese
とうきょうにすんでいます。
とうきょうにすんでいます。
💬 Usage Tip: Pattern: place + [に] + [すんでいます]. You can also say [東京に住んでいます] with kanji for a more “textbook/written” look.
🇯🇵 In Japan: For small talk, a common follow-up is how long: [どのぐらい東京にすんでいますか] “How long have you lived in Tokyo?”}]}
Phrase Breakdown
とうきょうにとうきょうに
in Tokyo
Place name + に indicates the location where you live/stay.
とうきょうに行きます。
I'm going to Tokyo.
すんでいますすんでいます
I live (there); I'm living (there)
Polite form meaning “to live/reside” (住んでいます). Used for your current residence.
横浜にすんでいます。
I live in Yokohama.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
とうきょうとうきょう
[toukyou]
Tokyo
Place name used with に to show where you live.
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
にに
[ni]
to / in / at (location particle)
に marks the location for すむ (to live).
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
すんすん
[sun]
(part of) live / reside (from すむ)
すん is part of すんでいます (live/reside). This is the conversational form from すむ → すんで.
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
でで
[de]
(te-form connector)
で connects to います to create the ongoing-state form 〜ています.
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
いい
[i]
(to be; part of います)
い is part of います. Together: すんでいます = “live.”
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
ますます
[masu]
(polite verb ending; part of います)
ます is the polite ending. This makes the whole sentence polite and appropriate in introductions.
とうきょうにすんでいます。
I live in Tokyo.
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