溜 liū to slip
to slip; to slide; to glide; to slip away; to skate
How to remember 溜: 氵 water + 留 remain = to slip. The cleaner's warning sign does not remain by the spilled water, and the boss starts to slip across the shiny lobby.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
溜 = 氵 water + 留 remain
- 氵 water meaning
- 留 remain sound
- 𠂎 left half
- 刀 knife
- 田 field
The cleaner's warning sign does not remain by the spilled water, and the boss starts to slip across the shiny lobby.
How it came to be
Water gives the meaning and the right part the sound; at first it was the name of a river.
How it is used
- To slip/slide, hence to slip away quietly: 溜走 (liūzǒu) to sneak off, 溜冰 (liūbīng) to skate, 开溜 (kāiliū) to slip out unnoticed.
- 溜达 (liūda) means to stroll/saunter. Colloquial; also 溜须拍马 (liūxū-pāimǎ) to flatter/toady.