留下

• Pinyin: liú xià
• Hanzi breakdown: 留 (liú) — to stay, to keep; 下 (xià) — down, indicating completion or remaining

Meaning

To stay behind; to remain; to leave behind. Indicates that someone stays or something is kept in a place.

A resultative verb compound of 留 (stay) + 下 (down/behind). Can mean physically staying somewhere or leaving something behind. Also used abstractly for leaving an impression or a memory.

Examples

1. 你先走吧，我留下来加班。 You go ahead — I'll stay behind to work overtime.
2. 她在这座城市留下了很多回忆。 She left behind many memories in this city.
3. 请把这些资料留下。 Please leave these documents here.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, work

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他留下来帮忙了。(He stayed behind to help.)
• 这件事给我留下了很深的印象。(This matter left a deep impression on me.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'留下走' (Don't combine 留下 with 走 — they are opposites; use one or the other)

Origin & History

Resultative compound of 留 (to stay, to keep) and 下 (down, indicating completion). The directional complement 下 adds the sense of settling or remaining in place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal