What is the Kanji for 'Stay' and 'Detain'? | 留

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Stay' and 'Detain', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Stay' and 'Detain' is 留.

kanji

留

Meaning

Stay, Detain

Reading

kunyomiと

onyomiりゅう

ryuu

る

Example Word

留める: stop or keep. The Japanese verb '留める (とどめる)' has two primary meanings. The first meaning is 'to keep' or 'to retain', often used in the sense of keeping something in a particular state or place. For example: I kept the letter「手紙を留めた」(てがみをとどめた). The second meaning is 'to stop' or 'to halt', used when preventing something from moving or progressing. For example: The police stopped the car「警察は車を留めた」(けいさつはくるまをとどめた). The verb can also imply a sense of restraint or limitation, depending on the context. It is important to note that the kanji 留 can also be read as 'とめる' in other contexts, but the reading 'とどめる' specifically carries these meanings.

Radical

田

Stroke Count

JLPT

Grade

Frequency

626

Handwriting

Words Using 留

This kanji is used in 8 words:

word

留学生

Meaning

Foreign student

word

留学

Meaning

Study abroad

word

停留所

Meaning

Stop

word

書留

Meaning

Registered mail

word

留まる

Meaning

Stop

word

留守

Meaning

Absence

word

留める

Meaning

Stop, Keep

word

留守番

Meaning

House sitting

Learn the Kanji 留

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 留 mean?

留 means 'Stay' and 'Detain'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Fifth Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.