字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

detain, fasten, halt, stop

On’yomi リュウ、ル
Kun’yomi と.める、と.まる、とど.める、とど.まる、るうぶる
Nanori とめ

Origin

This character combines a time marker (卯, which refers to the dawn hours in the traditional Chinese zodiac system) with a field (田). The pairing suggests something fixed or anchored at a particular place or moment — the idea of halting motion or keeping something in place. Over time, the specific zodiac meaning faded, leaving only the sense of "detain" or "stop" that remains today. The visual structure of a marker sitting above a bounded space reinforces the notion of something being held or fastened in position.

留 10 strokes

Components

  • 卯 meaning part top
  • 田 radical bottom

Common words

  • 拘留 こうりゅう custody; detention
  • 在留 ざいりゅう residing (esp. abroad); staying
  • 残留 ざんりゅう staying behind; remaining
  • 駐留 ちゅうりゅう stationing (e.g. of troops); garrison
  • 保留 ほりゅう reservation; putting on hold
  • 抑留 よくりゅう internment; detainment
  • 留学 りゅうがく studying abroad
  • 留守 るす absence; being away from home

Related kanji

Same radical
Shares components

Reference

Strokes
10
Kangxi radical
102
Formation type
Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
Grade
Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#731 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+07559