留 – JLPT N3 Kanji, Kanji for detain, fasten, halt, stop

留

Strokes: 10

Meanings: detain, fasten, halt, stop
Onyomi: リュウ, ル
Kunyomi: と.まる, と.める, とど.まる, とど.める, るうぶる
Name Readings: とめ
JLPT: N3
Grade: 5
Frequency: -
Kanji Writing Practice: Practice

Numbers Radicals Components

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Story

The kanji 留 is made from 卯 on top and 田 on the bottom. The bottom part 田 is a rice field, a symbol of land, boundaries, and a fixed place. The upper part 卯 originally showed a type of bolt or fastening pin used to lock or secure something in place. When these parts were combined, they created the idea of “holding something at a place,” much like locking it to a field or fixing it to a set position. Over time, the meaning shifted into “keeping,” “stopping,” or “staying.” It carried the sense that something is not moving on but being held where it is—remaining, staying, or being detained.

Short Story

A securing pin (卯) over a fixed field (田), showing the idea of keeping something in place—staying or remaining.

Mnemonic

Picture a field (田) with a pin (卯) stuck firmly into it, holding something down so it stays. That image becomes 留 — to remain, stay, or keep in place.

Vocabulary Examples

Word	Reading	Meaning	Meta
留	りゅう	stationary point	Noun
留	ルーブル	ruble (Russian currency), rouble	Noun
留学	りゅうがく	studying abroad	common JLPT-N3 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb
止まる	とまる	to stop (moving), to come to a stop	common JLPT-N2 JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb
留学生	りゅうがくせい	overseas student, exchange student	common JLPT-N5 Noun
留守	るす	absence, being away from home	common JLPT-N4 Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb, Intransitive verb, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
止める	とめる	to stop, to turn off	common JLPT-N4 JLPT-N3 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb
留守番	るすばん	care-taking, house-sitting, house-watching, staying at home	common JLPT-N2 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb
止まる	とどまる	to remain, to abide, to stay (in the one place)	common JLPT-N2 JLPT-N1 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb
留め金	とめがね	clasp, latch, catch, fastener	common Noun

Showing up to 15 entries including the Kanji.

Example Sentences

Example #1

私は日本に留学しています。

わたしはにほんにりゅうがくしています

watashi wa nihon ni ryuugaku shite imasu

I am studying abroad in Japan.

Example #2

彼女はアメリカで一年間留学した。

かのじょはアメリカでいちねんかんりゅうがくした

kanojo wa amerika de ichinenkan ryuugaku shita

She studied abroad in the U.S. for one year.

Example #3

弟は今、韓国に留学中です。

おとうとはいま、かんこくにりゅうがくちゅうです

otouto wa ima, kankoku ni ryuugakuchuu desu

My younger brother is currently studying in Korea.

Example #4

私は留学のためにお金を貯めています。

わたしはりゅうがくのためにおかねをためています

watashi wa ryuugaku no tame ni okane o tamete imasu

I am saving money to study abroad.

Example #5

彼は留学の経験を仕事にいかしています。

かれはりゅうがくのけいけんをしごとにいかしています

kare wa ryuugaku no keiken o shigoto ni ikashite imasu

He is using his study abroad experience in his job.

Example #6

留学生として日本に来ました。

りゅうがくせいとしてにほんにきました

ryuugakusei toshite nihon ni kimashita

I came to Japan as an international student.

Example #7

留守の間、猫の世話をお願いします。

るすのあいだ、ねこのせわをおねがいします

rusu no aida, neko no sewa o onegaishimasu

Please take care of my cat while I’m away.

Example #8

母は今、買い物で留守です。

はははいま、かいものでるすです

haha wa ima, kaimono de rusu desu

My mother is out shopping right now.

Example #9

留守番をしている間に友だちが来た。

るすばんをしているあいだにともだちがきた

rusuban o shiteiru aida ni tomodachi ga kita

A friend came while I was watching the house.

Example #10

この手紙を机の上に留めておいてください。

このてがみをつくえのうえにとめておいてください

kono tegami o tsukue no ue ni tomete oite kudasai

Please leave this letter on the desk.

Example #11

ドアをしっかり留めてください。

ドアをしっかりとめてください

doa o shikkari tomete kudasai

Please close the door firmly.

Example #12

彼女は留学生の友だちが多いです。

かのじょはりゅうがくせいのともだちがおおいです

kanojo wa ryuugakusei no tomodachi ga ooi desu

She has many friends who are international students.

Example #13

留守の時に電話がかかってきました。

るすのときにでんわがかかってきました

rusu no toki ni denwa ga kakatte kimashita

A phone call came while I was out.

Example #14

留学生は日本の文化を学んでいます。

りゅうがくせいはにほんのぶんかをまなんでいます

ryuugakusei wa nihon no bunka o manande imasu

International students are learning about Japanese culture.

Example #15

彼は会社に長く留められていた。

かれはかいしゃにながくとめられていた

kare wa kaisha ni nagaku tomerarete ita

He was kept at the company for a long time.

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Kanji Info

Kanji: 留

JLPT: n3

Strokes: 10

Grade: 5

Unicode: 7559

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