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Kotomora

留

detain, fasten, halt, stop

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • リュウ
  • ル

Kun'yomi

  • と.める
  • と.まる
  • とど.める
  • とど.まる
  • るうぶる

Nanori

  • とめ

Meaning

留 centers on keeping something in place: detaining a person, fastening an object, or bringing movement to a halt. The core idea is preventing departure or change.

Most common words using 留

21 of 224
  • 留学りゅうがく
    N4

    studying abroad

  • 留めるとどめる
    N1

    to stop; to stay (e.g. the night); to cease; to put an end to

  • 留学生りゅうがくせい
    N5

    overseas student; exchange student

  • 保留ほりゅう
    N2

    reservation; putting on hold; deferment; withholding

  • 残留ざんりゅう

    staying behind; remaining; residual

  • 留守るす
    N4

    absence; being away from home

  • 留置りゅうち

    detention (usu. during investigation); imprisonment; poundage; custody

  • 留守番るすばん
    N2

    care-taking; house-sitting; house-watching; staying at home

  • 在留ざいりゅう
    N1

    residing (esp. abroad); staying; living

  • 駐留ちゅうりゅう

    stationing (e.g. of troops); garrison

  • 留年りゅうねん
    N1

    repeating a year (at school); staying in the same class for another year

  • 留保りゅうほ

    reserving; withholding

  • 拘留こうりゅう

    custody; detention; confinement

  • 歌留多カルタ
    N2

    karuta; traditional Japanese playing cards, esp. hyakunin isshu karuta or iroha karuta

  • 停留所ていりゅうじょ
    N3

    stop (bus, tram, etc.); station; stopping place

  • 抑留よくりゅう

    internment; detainment; detention

  • 書留かきとめ
    N2

    registered mail; registered post; registration (of mail)

  • 留任りゅうにん

    remaining in office; staying in office; remaining at one's post

  • 局留めきょくどめ

    general delivery; counter collection; poste restante

  • 留め金とめがね

    clasp; latch; catch; fastener

  • 留置場りゅうちじょう

    police cell; place of detention; jail

Explore all words using 留 →

Study

Etymology

留 is thought to combine 田 (field) with a phonetic element that also suggests stopping or staying. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character has long been associated with detaining or halting.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a field (田) with a fence-like top that stops animals from leaving. The whole shape looks like something fastened down to halt movement.

Reading mnemonic

For リュウ, imagine a detained person named Ryu who is stopped at the field: Ryu -> リュウ, and he cannot leave.