留

liú
HSK 4
#554 most
frequent character
to leave (eg a message), to retain
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

留 pairs 田 field with 卯 mǎo, a sound part. The first meaning was to stop and stay awhile, as if settling in a field. It then grew to remain or leave behind, and to reserve or preserve. The sound link with 卯 is hard to hear today.

留 as a component in other characters

sound7 characters
溜瘤榴遛熘骝鹠
picture2 characters
馏镏

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Example Sentences

请你给我留个信息。
qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ liúgè xìnxī 。
Please leave me a message.
他决定留在这里。
tā juédìng liúzài zhèlǐ 。
He decided to stay here.
我想留一点钱给自己。
wǒxiǎng liú yīdiǎn qián gěi zìjǐ 。
I want to keep a little money for myself.

Words with similar meanings

保留bǎoliú
to preserve
More formal; often used in contexts of maintaining or preserving something.
留下liúxià
to stay behind
Similar usage; often emphasizes the action of remaining in a physical space.

Homophones

流liú
flow, spread
刘liú
(classical) a type of battle-ax

Words Starting With 留

留学liú xué
to study abroad
留念liú niàn
to keep as a souvenir; to recall fondly
留恋liú liàn
reluctant to leave; to hate to have to go; to recall fondly
留神liú shén
to take care; to be careful

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Public Lists with 留

Basic Verbs
Core action verbs like 'go,' 'come,' 'eat,' 'see,' commonly encountered in HSK.
Common Communication Phrases
Polite expressions, apologies, congratulatory phrases, and casual chat.
HSK 4
All words for the HSK 4 test