Literally 'getting up and sitting down' — a metonym for 'daily life, day-to-day affairs'. Common compounds: 起居室 (living room), 起居有规律 (a regular daily routine), 饮食起居 ('eating and daily life', i.e. someone's whole well-being).
history
The imperial 起居注 (qǐjūzhù) was the official chronicle of the emperor's daily activities, kept by court historians. These records are major primary sources for Chinese historians today.
