留言

• Pinyin: liú yán
• Hanzi breakdown: 留 = 卯 + 田, to stay/leave; 言 = pictograph of mouth with words, speech

Meaning

To leave a message; a message left for someone. Written or recorded communication.

Both verb and noun. Used for: answering machine messages (留言信箱), website comments (留言板), notes left for someone. Modern usage includes social media comments. 请留言 (please leave a message) is standard on voicemail.

Examples

1. 他不在家，你可以在门口给他留言。 He's not home; you can leave him a message at the door.
2. 网站的留言板上有很多用户的反馈和建议。 The website's message board has a lot of user feedback and suggestions.
3. 我给他打电话没人接，只好留言让他回电。 I called him but nobody answered, so I had to leave a message asking him to call back.

Usage Guide

Context: communication, social media, voicemail

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 请在嘟声后留言。(Please leave a message after the beep.)
• 我在留言板上看到了你的评论。(I saw your comment on the message board.)

Don't Say

• 把留言和发消息完全等同 (留言 implies asynchronous one-way message; 发消息 can be real-time chat)

Origin & History

Compound of 留 (to leave/stay) + 言 (words/speech). Leaving words for someone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal