逗留 (dòu liú) — to stay (for a while), to sojourn | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal verb meaning 'to stay / sojourn' for a while in a place. Stronger and more literary than 停留, and emphasizes lingering rather than overnight lodging (住宿) or a guest visit (作客).

verb

to stay (for a while)to sojourn

Examples

逗留。
Wǒ men kě yǐ zài hǎi biān dòu liú yì zhěng tiān.
We can stay by the seaside for a whole day.
逗留。
Tā yīn wèi gōng zuò zài zhè zuò chéng shì dòu liú le jǐ gè yuè.
He stayed in this city for several months because of work.
逗留。
Lǚ kè men tōng cháng bú huì zài cǐ dì cháng qī dòu liú.
Travelers usually do not stay here for a long time.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

逗 and 留 both mean to stay, together emphasizing lingering for a while.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶豆逗

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

豆dòu逗dòu

Same sound today

逗 pairs 辶, written in full as 辵, with 豆, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

卯

卯mǎo留liú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

留 combines 田 (field) with 卯, which gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Travel & Tourism

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