Definition
留情 means 'to show mercy or forgiveness', but it's a separable verb (离合词): the noun 情 can split off from 留 when you insert a measure word, duration, or negation, e.g. 留一点情 ('show a little mercy'), 不留情 ('show no mercy'). It's often used in set phrases like 手下留情 ('hold back one's hand — show mercy') and 毫不留情 ('without the slightest mercy'). The object of mercy is usually handled with 对 + person, not placed directly after the verb.
v.o.
to show mercyto spare (someone)
Examples
- 。Tā duì dírén háo bù liú qíng.He showed no mercy to the enemy.
- 留情，。Qǐng nǐ shǒu xià liú qíng, bié chéngfá de tài zhòng.Please have mercy—don't punish too harshly.
- 。Zài zhè zhǒng chǎnghé bù néng liú yì diǎn qíng.In this kind of situation, you cannot show any mercy.
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