Explore 留 in words that express remaining, holding or keeping someone in custody.
The idea
留 has 10 strokes. Read 留学(りゅうがく), 留守(るす), 留める(とめる) and 拘留(こうりゅう) as whole words; the reading depends on the word.
Examples
- 彼女は日本に留学しています。She studies abroad in Japan.
- 来年、海外に留学します。I will study abroad next year.
- 父は今日、留守です。My father is away from home today.
- 留守の間にメッセージを残してください。Please leave a message while I am out.
- 書類をクリップで留めてください。Please fasten the documents with a clip.
- 容疑者は警察に拘留されました。The suspect was detained by the police.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
留守 means being away from home, not staying at home. 拘留 refers to detention; 留学 means study abroad, not detention.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 留学 in hiragana.
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りゅうがく
留学 is りゅうがく: it means studying abroad.
Write the reading of 留守 in hiragana.
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るす
留守 is るす: it describes absence from home.
Choose the missing kanji: 拘_(こうりゅう)[留/流].
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留
留 completes 拘留(こうりゅう), detention.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 留学 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 留守 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: 拘_(こうりゅう)[留/流].
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Use the linked diagram to write 留, then read 留学 and 留守 aloud and make a sentence with one.

