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扣留 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扣留kòuliúto detainHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10656, Very Hard
扣留kòuliúto arrestHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10656, Very Hard
扣留kòuliúto holdHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10656, Very Hard
扣留kòuliúto confiscateHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #10656, Very Hard
kòuliú(kou4liu2)kou liu T4
  1. 1to detain
  2. 2to arrest
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March 24, 2026

扣留kòuliú(kou4liu2)

扣留 (kòuliú) means to detain or hold someone or something, often in a legal context. It is commonly used when authorities confiscate items or when a person is held by law enforcement for questioning or investigation. The term carries a formal tone and is associated with legal or bureaucratic situations.

Strokes16Frequency#10656DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of detainment often involves strict legal processes and societal respect for authority. The term is frequently used in news reports regarding law enforcement activities, reflecting a societal emphasis on maintaining order.

Memory tip

Imagine a person trying to escape but getting caught by a giant '扣' (kòu) - a clamp that holds things in place. The '留' (liú) part can remind you of '留住' (liú zhù), meaning to keep or hold onto something. Together, they visualize the act of detaining.

Meanings of 扣留

kòuliú(kou4liu2)
1to detain
2to arrest
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About 扣留

扣留Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 扣留

Quick Contrast

拘留 (jūliú) - use 扣留 when referring to the detention of items or property, while 拘留 is specifically for the detention of individuals by law enforcement.

Usage Notes

When using 扣留, be cautious of the context; it is more formal and should not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 扣留证据 (kòuliú zhèngjù - to detain evidence) and 扣留人员 (kòuliú rényuán - to detain personnel). Additionally, ensure you use the correct tone: kǒu (4th tone) and liú (2nd tone).

HSK Study Tips

扣留 is relevant for HSK Level 5 and above due to its formal usage. Students should focus on understanding legal vocabulary and how 扣留 relates to other characters involving detention or holding, such as 逮捕 (dàibǔ - to arrest).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扣留 with other similar terms like 逮捕 or 拘留 (jūliú - to detain in a broader sense). For example, saying '我被扣留了' (Wǒ bèi kòuliú le) incorrectly when they mean 'I was arrested' should be corrected to '我被逮捕了' (Wǒ bèi dàibǔ le).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扣留

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Component characters

扣kòuto fasten
HSK 66 strokes扌
View full entry
留liúto stay, to remain; to preserve, to keep; to leave a message; 
HSK 410 strokes田
View full entry

How to say to detain in Chinese

“to detain” in Chinese is扣留kòuliú

扣留 (kòuliú) means to detain or hold someone or something, often in a legal context. It is commonly used when authorities confiscate items or when a person is held by law enforcement for questioning or investigation. The term carries a formal tone and is associated with legal or bureaucratic situations.

When to use 扣留

When using 扣留, be cautious of the context; it is more formal and should not be used in casual conversation. Common collocations include 扣留证据 (kòuliú zhèngjù - to detain evidence) and 扣留人员 (kòuliú rényuán - to detain personnel). Additionally, ensure you use the correct tone: kǒu (4th tone) and liú (2nd tone).

扣留 or something close to it

拘留 (jūliú) - use 扣留 when referring to the detention of items or property, while 拘留 is specifically for the detention of individuals by law enforcement.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 扣留 with other similar terms like 逮捕 or 拘留 (jūliú - to detain in a broader sense). For example, saying '我被扣留了' (Wǒ bèi kòuliú le) incorrectly when they mean 'I was arrested' should be corrected to '我被逮捕了' (Wǒ bèi dàibǔ le).

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扣
留

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Cultural Notes for 扣留

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

The concept of detainment in China can be more formal and bureaucratic compared to a more informal approach in Western countries, where legal rights and processes may differ significantly.

Frequently asked questions about 扣留

扣留 (kòuliú) generally refers to detaining or holding someone temporarily, while 逮捕 (dàibǔ) implies a formal arrest, often with legal consequences.

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