All meanings
- to leave (a message etc)
- to retain
- to stay
- to remain
- to keep
- to preserve
In context
Example sentences
请留下你的电话号码。
Qǐng liú xià nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ.
Please leave your phone number.
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Related words
Words with 留
Grammar notes
HSK levels
留: HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands
New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting of the new exam is announced for 13 December 2026, for HSK 1 to 6. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.
Study this word
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Frequently Asked Questions
留 (liú) means "to leave (a message etc); to retain; to stay; to remain; to keep; to preserve" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.
留 is pronounced "liú" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.
留 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 4 on both the old and the new exam.
Common words with 留 include 停留 (to stay somewhere temporarily), 保留 (to retain), 久留 (to stay for a long time), 勾留 (to stay), 去留 (going or staying).
You can practice writing 留 using our stroke order tool.
Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.