Learn Hardcore Chinese: tā zhù zài zhè gè chéngshì de nán bian.

But with a longer, more complex place phrase like 这个城市的南边, native speakers normally keep 在. So here, you should treat 住在 as a fixed pattern: 住在 + 地方 (“live at + place”).

What is the function of 个 in 这个城市? Can I say 这城市 instead?

个 is the measure word (classifier) for 这.

这 + 个 + (noun) is the standard pattern:
这个城市 – this city

You can say 这城市 in casual spoken Chinese; it sounds more informal and a bit “compressed”. In writing and in standard speech, 这个城市 is safer and more neutral.

So:

Standard: 他住在这个城市的南边。
Colloquial: 他住在这城市的南边。

Both are understandable; the first is more textbook‑correct.

Why do we need 的 before 南边 in 这个城市的南边?

的 links a modifier to what it describes. Here:

这个城市 = this city (modifier)
南边 = southern part / south side (the thing being modified)

So 这个城市的南边 literally means “the south side of this city”.

Without 的, 这个城市南边 usually means “(somewhere) to the south of this city” (i.e. outside it), while:

这个城市的南边 tends to mean “the southern part within this city.”

So 的 helps show that 南边 is a part of the city, not just a place located beyond it.

What’s the difference between 南, 南边, 南面, and 南部?

All relate to “south,” but they’re used slightly differently:

南 – “south” in a basic sense, often part of compounds:
南方 (the south, southern regions), 南部 (southern part).
南边 – “southern side/area”; very common in everyday speech for locations:
城市的南边 – the southern part/side of the city.
南面 – also “south side”, slightly more literal or directional, like “the side facing south”. In many contexts 南边 and 南面 are interchangeable, though 南边 is a bit more colloquial.
南部 – “southern part/region”, more formal and larger in scale:
中国南部 – the southern part of China.
这个城市的南部 – the southern part of this city (a bit more formal than 南边).

In your sentence, 南边 is the most natural choice for everyday speech.

What does 边 add? Why not just say 这个城市的南?

边 literally means “side” or “edge”.

南 alone is more abstract: the direction “south”.
南边 means “the south side/area (of something)” – a more concrete location.

Native speakers almost never say 这个城市的南 on its own; it sounds incomplete. They say 南边, 南面, or 南部:

这个城市的南边 – the southern side/area of this city.
这个城市的南部 – the southern part of this city (slightly more formal).

So in practice you should treat 南 + 边/面/部 as the normal patterns.

Can I change the word order to 他在这个城市的南边住?

Yes, that word order is grammatically correct, but less neutral.

Two common patterns are:

Subject + 住在 + place (most common, neutral):
- 他住在这个城市的南边。
Subject + 在 + place + 住 (also correct, slightly different emphasis):
- 他在这个城市的南边住。
  (Emphasizes “as for being in the south of the city, he lives there.”)

In normal conversation, 他住在这个城市的南边 is more typical.

Can I use a different measure word, like 座, instead of 个 in 这个城市?

Yes, you can:

这座城市 – this city (using 座, often for buildings, cities, bridges, large stationary objects)

So you could say:

他住在这座城市的南边。

Differences:

个 is the default, most general classifier: 这个城市 is completely standard.
座 gives a slightly more literary or “object-like” feel to the city, often used in writing or more descriptive styles.

For everyday speech, 这个城市 is more common.

What’s the difference between 这个城市的南边 and 南边的这个城市?

They describe different things:

这个城市的南边 – “the south side of this city”
→ You’re talking about a part of the city.
南边的这个城市 – literally “this city that is in the south”
→ You’re talking about the city itself, which is located in the south (of some larger area that’s understood from context).

Compare:

他住在这个城市的南边。
He lives in the southern part of this city.
他住在南边的这个城市。
He lives in this city that is in the south (as opposed to a northern city, for example).

So the position of 的 completely changes what is modifying what.

Is 住在 one word, or should I think of it as 住 + 在?

Syntactically, it’s 住 (verb) + 在 (preposition-like marker) + place.

But practically for learning, you can treat 住在 + place as a fixed pattern:

住在北京 – live in Beijing
住在学校附近 – live near the school
住在这个城市的南边 – live in the southern part of this city

Just remember: 住 normally needs either 在 + place or a short place word directly (住这儿, 住家里).

Does 住在 imply “live (permanently)” or “stay (temporarily)”?

住在 by itself does not strictly mark permanence; context does.

It often implies a relatively stable residence (like English “live”), especially with cities or districts:
- 他住在这个城市的南边。
  → most likely “He lives in the southern part of this city.”
For definitely temporary stays, people more commonly add time words or other context:
- 他暂时住在这里。 – He is staying here temporarily.
- 他在朋友家住了三天。 – He stayed at his friend’s place for three days.

So default reading of your sentence is “He lives …”, not just “He is staying … for a short time.”

How is 边 pronounced here? Is it biān or neutral tone?

The dictionary form is biān (first tone), so:

南边 → nánbiān

In fluent speech, 边 in place words like 这边, 那边, 南边, 旁边 is often pronounced with a neutral tone, so you’ll hear something like nánbian with a light, unstressed final syllable.

Both are acceptable in normal conversation; tone markings in learning materials usually show the full tone: biān.