Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 呆 | dāi |
| 留 | liú |
The verb is used to describe remaining in a particular place. Depending on the context, you might use 呆 to describe lingering in a place in a relaxed or lazy manner or 留 when emphasizing the decision or choice to remain or stay behind.
Which one should you use?
呆 is used in colloquial speech to describe staying or remaining in a specific place or state, such as staying at home or staying in a daze. In contrast, 留 is a neutral term used when the emphasis is on the act of remaining or staying behind, often implying a choice or a decision not to leave.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When specifying a location, the verb 呆 is frequently followed by the preposition 在 to form 呆在 + [location]. Additionally, the combination 留下 is a common way to express the act of staying behind or leaving something or someone behind.
How do you pronounce it?
dāi
Did you know?
- In modern slang, the word 呆 is sometimes used to describe a 'cute' kind of awkwardness or innocence, similar to the Japanese concept of 'moe'.
- When someone says 留步 ('stay your steps'), it is actually a polite way of telling a guest that they do not need to walk you all the way to the door.
- While 留 means 'to stay', it is also the root for the word 'student' in 学生 when referring to international students, known as 留学生.
Examples in context
- 让我们留下。Let us stay.This sentence is useful for practicing the form 留 in the context of a group decision.Tatoeba #5685919 by verdastelo9604, translation #3913150 by CH
- 我得留在家。I have to stay home.This sentence shows how to use 留 when expressing a necessity to stay at a specific location like a home.Tatoeba #6077358 by verdastelo9604, translation #256482 by CK
- 我想要留下。I want to stay.This sentence demonstrates using 留 to express a personal desire to stay.Tatoeba #9178046 by xiaohong, translation #1887895 by CK
- 我将在北京停留三天。(Wǒ jiāng zài Běijīng tíng liú sān tiān.)I will stay in Beijing for three days.
- 我要待在这家旅馆一晚。(Wǒ yào dāi zài zhè jiā lǚguǎn yī wǎn.)I will stay at this hotel for one night.
- 我喜欢呆在家里。(Wǒ xǐhuān dāi zài jiā lǐ.)I like to stay at home.
- 我要在上海待一个星期。(Wǒ yào zài Shànghǎi dāi yī gè xīngqī.)I will stay in Shanghai for one week.
- 他将在酒店停留一晚。(Tā jiāng zài jiǔdiàn tíng liú yī wǎn.)He will stay at the hotel for one night.
- 我打算在山区停留几天。(Wǒ dǎsuàn zài shānqū tíng liú jǐ tiān.)I plan to stay in the mountainous area for a few days.
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
晓雯 and 伟 are talking at a cafe about weekend plans.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你周末想去哪儿？Nǐ zhōumò xiǎng qù nǎ'er?Where do you want to go this weekend?
- 伟 Wei我只想在家里呆着。Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng zài jiālǐ dāizhe.I just want to stay at home.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那太无聊了。Nà tài wúliáo le.That is too boring.
- 伟 Wei可是我想休息一下。Kěshì wǒ xiǎng xiūxi yīxià.But I want to rest a bit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stay” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
