停留

• Pinyin: tíng liú
• Hanzi breakdown: 停 = 亻(person) + 亭 (pavilion), to stop; 留 = 卯 + 田 (field), to remain

Meaning

To stay; to remain; to linger at a place temporarily.

Describes a temporary stay at a location before moving on. Often used for travel and transit situations. Can also be used figuratively for thoughts or attention remaining on something. Implies a pause rather than permanent residence. Common with time expressions (停留三天 stay for three days).

Examples

1. 我们在上海停留了两天，然后继续前往杭州。 We stayed in Shanghai for two days, then continued on to Hangzhou.
2. 他的目光在那幅画上停留了很久。 His gaze lingered on that painting for a long time.
3. 签证只允许停留三十天，不能超期。 The visa only allows a stay of thirty days — you can't overstay.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, immigration, figurative

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 在这里停留多长时间？(How long will you stay here?)
• 飞机中途在迪拜停留。(The plane has a stopover in Dubai.)

Don't Say

• 我停留在北京工作 — for long-term residence, use 住在 or 定居; 停留 implies temporary

Origin & History

Compound of 停 (stop) + 留 (remain/stay), meaning to stop and remain at a place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal