The Meaning of taizai [滞在] In Japanese

滞在
たいざい
Romaji: taizai N3

What does 滞在 mean?

Translation and Meaning

stay, sojourn, residence

Definition

滞在 means the act or state of staying in a place for a period of time, typically implying temporary residence or presence rather than permanent habitation.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • temporary stay or presence with emphasis on duration rather than long-term residence
  • the duration or period of staying, commonly expressed as 滞在期間
  • in formal writing, the noun 滞在 can be paired with 滞在する to denote the act of staying

Etymology

滞 indicates stagnation or delay, 在 means to exist or be present; together they form a Sino-Japanese compound whose pronunciation is taizai and which denotes remaining in a place.

Composition

  • 滞: to stagnate; delay
  • 在: to exist; be present; location
The combination expresses the idea of existing at a location for a period of time and not moving on.

Usage

Used as a noun in neutral to formal registers; it commonly collocates with 滞在する to express the act of staying, and appears in phrases such as 滞在期間 and 滞在先, especially in travel, business, and immigration contexts.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: tai- zai can be remembered as tying yourself to a place to stay; visualize a traveler at a station with a rope tied to the platform to stay put.

Variations

  • 停留 (ていりゅう, teiryū) – stay, stopover
  • 逗留 (とうりゅう, touryū) – temporary stay, formal usage
  • 居留 (きょりゅう, kyoryū) – residence or settlement, used in compounds like 居留地

Example Phrases

  • 週末、 東京に 滞在して、 友達と 食事を 楽しんだ。
    Shūmatsu, Tōkyō ni taizai shite, tomodachi to shokuji o tanoshinda.
    Over the weekend, I stayed in Tokyo and enjoyed a meal with friends.
    Lista:
    • 週末 (shūmatsu) – weekend
    • 東京に (Tōkyō ni) – in Tokyo
    • 滞在して (taizai shite) – staying
    • 友達と (tomodachi to) – with friends
    • 食事を (shokuji o) – a meal
    • 楽しんだ (tanoshinda) – enjoyed
    Core point: 「滞在」 is a noun meaning ‘stay’; here it uses に滞在して to mark the place and connect to the following action.
滞在