Word
滞在
Meaning in Englishstay, sojourn
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
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.
Main 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
How to use it
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.
Variants and close terms
- 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
Composition
- 滞: to stagnate; delay
- 在: to exist; be present; location
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.
Word class
Noun (suru-verb)