Chinese word

室友

Pronunciation

Pinyinshì yǒu

Meaning

  • nounroommate

Example

室友今天不在家。shì yǒu jīn tiān bú zài jiā

My roommate isn't home today.

Illustration for 室友 (roommate)

More examples

我和室友一起做饭。wǒ hé shì yǒu yì qǐ zuò fàn

My roommate and I cook together.

Core concept

A companion who shares the same living space in a home or dormitory.

Common phrases

  • 我的室友wǒ de shì yǒu

    my roommate

  • 和室友合租hé shì yǒu hé zū

    share a place with a roommate

  • 跟室友聊天gēn shì yǒu liáo tiān

    chat with a roommate

Similar words

舍友shé yǒu: A student living in the same room or dormitory as another student.
合租者hé zū zhě: A person who rents a home with others and shares the housing costs.
同居人tóng jū rén: Anyone living in the same house, such as a family member or spouse.

Definition in Chinese

与自己在同一住宅或宿舍居住、共享生活空间的人，通常指与自己同住的同伴。yǔ zì jǐ zài tóng yí zhù zhái huò sù shè jū zhù gòng xiǎng shēng huó kōng jiān de rén tōng cháng zhǐ yǔ zì jǐ tóng zhù de tóng bàn

Word origin

室友 (shìyǒu, "roommate") combines 室 (shì, "room") + 友 (yǒu, "companion") to present a person who shares an indoor living space.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may picture one shared bedroom, whereas Chinese usage also includes a dormitory or home companion with a separate bedroom.

Other meanings

  • housematenoun

Opposites

  • 独居者dú jū zhěperson who lives alonenoun

Word lists with this word