jūmín: 居民 - Resident, Inhabitant

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 居民 (jūmín), which means “resident” or “inhabitant.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance related to the `户口 (hùkǒu)` system, and practical use in modern China. Understand the key difference between being a 居民 (jūmín) (a resident of a place) and a `公民 (gōngmín)` (a citizen of a country), a crucial distinction for learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jūmín
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A person who lives in a particular place; a resident or inhabitant.
• In a Nutshell: 居民 (jūmín) is the standard, slightly formal term for someone who lives in a specific area, whether it's a neighborhood, a city, or a district. Think of it as the word you'd see on official notices, in news reports, or in statistical data. It focuses on the fact of dwelling in a location, rather than one's nationality or personal identity.

• 居 (jū): This character means “to live,” “to reside,” or “to dwell.” It originally depicted a person (尸) under a roof, symbolizing a place of residence.
• 民 (mín): This character means “the people” or “the populace.” It represents a group of individuals as a collective.
• When combined, 居民 (jūmín) literally translates to “residing people,” which perfectly captures the meaning of “residents” or “inhabitants.”

The term 居民 (jūmín) is more than just a direct translation of “resident”; it's deeply tied to China's social and administrative structure. Its primary cultural significance is best understood by contrasting it with `公民 (gōngmín)`, which means “citizen.”

• 居民 (jūmín) is about geography. It answers the question, “Where do you live?” A foreigner living in Shanghai is a `居民` of Shanghai.
• `公民 (gōngmín)` is about nationality and legal status. It answers the question, “What is your nationality?” A Chinese person living abroad is still a Chinese `公民`, but not a `居民` of a Chinese city.

This distinction is crucial in China due to the `户口 (hùkǒu)` system, or household registration. Your `hùkǒu` determines your official residency and access to social services like education and healthcare. You can be a de-facto `居民` of Beijing (living and working there) but have your `hùkǒu` in a different province, making you ineligible for certain local benefits. Furthermore, urban life in China is often managed by a `居民委员会 (jūmín wěiyuánhuì)`, or “Residents' Committee.” This grassroots government body handles local affairs, from public sanitation to mediating neighborly disputes, reinforcing the administrative and collective nature of the term `居民`.

居民 (jūmín) is used frequently in formal and semi-formal contexts. You'll encounter it everywhere in daily life, but you might not use it as often in casual conversation.

• Official Announcements and News: This is the most common context. Notices from property management, government policies, and news reports about a city will always use `居民`.
  • e.g., “A notice to all residents…” (致全体居民的通知…)
• Statistics and Demographics: When discussing population figures for a specific area, `居民` is the standard term.
  • e.g., “The city has 5 million permanent residents.” (这个城市有五百万常住居民。)
• Formal Identification: While you wouldn't typically introduce yourself as a `居民` in a casual chat (you'd just say “我住在这里,” “I live here”), you might use it in a formal setting to clarify your status. For example, if a pollster asks if you're a local resident.

The term is neutral. It's a descriptor, not a term of endearment or criticism.

• Example 1:
  • 这个小区的居民大多是年轻人。
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiǎoqū de jūmín dàduō shì niánqīngrén.
  • English: The residents of this residential complex are mostly young people.
  • Analysis: A simple, descriptive sentence you might hear in a conversation about housing or neighborhoods.
• Example 2:
  • 市政府发布了一项旨在改善居民生活质量的新政策。
  • Pinyin: Shì zhèngfǔ fābùle yī xiàng zhǐ zài gǎishàn jūmín shēnghuó zhìliàng de xīn zhèngcè.
  • English: The city government has issued a new policy aimed at improving the quality of life for residents.
  • Analysis: This is a typical example from a news report or official document.
• Example 3:
  • 游客和当地居民对这个问题的看法不同。
  • Pinyin: Yóukè hé dāngdì jūmín duì zhège wèntí de kànfǎ bùtóng.
  • English: Tourists and local residents have different views on this issue.
  • Analysis: Here, `居民` is used to draw a clear distinction between those who live in a place and those who are just visiting.
• Example 4:
  • 停水通知：请各位居民提前做好储水准备。
  • Pinyin: Tíng shuǐ tōngzhī: Qǐng gèwèi jūmín tíqián zuò hǎo chǔshuǐ zhǔnbèi.
  • English: Water Outage Notice: All residents are kindly requested to prepare by storing water in advance.
  • Analysis: This is classic language you would see on a notice posted in an apartment building's elevator.
• Example 5:
  • 作为一名外国居民，我在中国的生活非常愉快。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng wàiguó jūmín, wǒ zài Zhōngguó de shēnghuó fēicháng yúkuài.
  • English: As a foreign resident, my life in China is very pleasant.
  • Analysis: This sentence correctly uses `居民` to describe a non-citizen who lives in the country.
• Example 6:
  • 调查显示，超过80%的居民对社区安全感到满意。
  • Pinyin: Diàochá xiǎnshì, chāoguò bǎi fēn zhī bāshí de jūmín duì shèqū ānquán gǎndào mǎnyì.
  • English: The survey shows that over 80% of residents are satisfied with community safety.
  • Analysis: A common use of `居民` in statistical reports or research findings.
• Example 7:
  • 居民身份证是证明身份的重要证件。
  • Pinyin: Jūmín shēnfènzhèng shì zhèngmíng shēnfèn de zhòngyào zhèngjiàn.
  • English: The Resident Identity Card is an important document for proving one's identity.
  • Analysis: The official name for China's national ID card is `居民身份证`, highlighting the term's official status.
• Example 8:
  • 这片区域是商业区，不是居民区。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piàn qūyù shì shāngyèqū, bùshì jūmínqū.
  • English: This area is a commercial district, not a residential area.
  • Analysis: Shows how `居民` is used as a modifier in the common word `居民区` (residential area).
• Example 9:
  • 如果邻里有矛盾，可以找居民委员会调解。