Definition
保留 means to keep something for future use or to hold back (e.g., reservations, opinions). It is more deliberate than 留 (to keep/leave behind) or 留下 (to leave something behind), and it also uniquely covers the sense of not fully expressing oneself or having doubts.
verb
to keepto retainto set aside for laterto have reservations (about something)to hold back (from saying something)
Examples
- 保留。Qǐng bǎo liú zhège wénjiàn.Please keep this file.
- 保留。Wǒ duì zhège jìhuà bǎo liú yìjiàn.I have reservations about this plan.
- 保留。Tā bǎo liú le hěn duō huà méiyǒu shuō chūlái.He held back a lot of words and didn't say them.
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