Definitions

liū (verb) to slip; to slide; to glide
liū (verb) to skate
liū (verb) to sneak away
liù (noun) swift current; rapids
liù (noun) surroundings; neighbourhood

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 溜, composed of the water radical 氵and the phonetic component 留, originally conveyed meanings directly associated with the movement of water, such as to flow, drip, or glide smoothly. Its structural composition hints at this essence, with 留 potentially contributing a sense of continuity or retention alongside the aquatic action implied by the radical. Over time, the semantic field of the character expanded metaphorically from this core aquatic concept to encompass a wider range of smooth, swift, or covert motions, such as slipping away, sliding, or even skimming a surface. This extension also gave rise to more abstract or colloquial uses, including the idea of being adept or "slick" at a task, as well as culinary techniques like quick-frying in a sauce, which retains a conceptual link to a glazing or coating action.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在公园冰。

Tā zài gōngyuán liūbīng.

He is ice skating in the park.

孩子出了房间。

Háizi liū chūle fángjiān.

The child slipped out of the room.

小猫从门口走了。

Xiǎo māo cóng ménkǒu liū zǒule.

The kitten slipped away from the door.

我们下午去公园达。

Wǒmen xiàwǔ qù gōngyuán liūda.

We will go for a stroll in the park in the afternoon.

孩子们喜欢滑梯。

Háizimen xǐhuān liū huátī.

Children like sliding down the slide.

他趁人不注意进了会议室。

Tā chèn rén bù zhùyì liū jìnle huìyìshì.

He sneaked into the meeting room when no one was paying attention.

雨水从屋檐下来。

Yǔshuǐ cóng wūyán liū xiàlái.

Rainwater trickles down from the eaves.

那个小偷从后门走时被抓住了。

Nàgè xiǎotōu cóng hòumén liū zǒu shí bèi zhuā zhùle.

That thief was caught when he was slipping away from the back door.