保留 (bǎoliú) · to keep

保留 (bǎoliú) means “to keep; to retain”. It is written with 2 characters: 保 (to protect) + 留 (to leave (behind)). It is an HSK 3 word in the 2021 standard.

How 保留 is built

The characters

保 bǎo · to protect

What 保 is made of

亻rén — person
呆dāi — dull
- 口kǒu — mouth
  - 冂 — frame
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 木mù — tree
  - 十 — ten
  - 八bā — eight

Origin hint: 亻 gives the meaning, 呆 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

留 liú · to leave (behind)

What 留 is made of

卯mǎo — 4th terrestrial branch
- 卩jié — seal
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
田tián — field
- 冂 — frame
  - 丨 — vertical stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
  - 十 — ten
  - 一 — horizontal stroke

Example sentences

我还保留着那封信。Wǒ hái bǎoliú zhe nà fēng xìn.I still keep that letter.

这个座位为你保留。Zhège zuòwèi wèi nǐ bǎoliú.This seat is reserved for you.

Questions about 保留

What does 保留 mean?

保留 (bǎoliú) means “to keep; to retain”.

How do you pronounce 保留?

保留 is pronounced bǎoliú.

Which HSK level is 保留?

保留 is in HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 5.

Related words

Learn 保留 with its group

It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 21: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

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