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留心 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
留心liúxīnto be carefulHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #8577, Very Hard
留心liúxīnto pay attention toHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #8577, Very Hard
liúxīn(liu2xin1) T2
  1. 1to be careful
  2. 2to pay attention to
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March 24, 2026

留心liúxīn(liu2xin1)

留心 means to be careful or to pay attention to something. It is commonly used when advising someone to be alert or to take notice of their surroundings or specific details, often in contexts where caution is necessary.

Strokes14Frequency#8577DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being attentive to details is highly valued, especially in social interactions and business settings. 留心 reflects the cultural emphasis on mindfulness and awareness in daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person with their eyes wide open, trying to '留' (liú, to stay) focused on the little things around them. The '心' (xīn, heart) represents their attentiveness, as if they are listening with their heart. Together, 留心 conjures the image of a vigilant heart staying alert.

Meanings of 留心

liúxīn(liu2xin1)
1to be careful
2to pay attention to
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About 留心

留心Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 留心

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AI Study Notes for 留心

Quick Contrast

注意 (zhùyì) - use 留心 when suggesting a more personal, cautious attention, while 注意 is more general and can imply awareness without the same level of personal caution.

Usage Notes

留心 is generally used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 注意 (zhùyì), which is more formal; 留心 implies a more personal touch. Be cautious of tone mistakes, as mispronouncing 留 could change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

While 留心 is not listed in HSK, understanding it can benefit learners at HSK 4 and above. It connects with other words related to caution and attention, such as 注意 (zhùyì) and 小心 (xiǎoxīn). Focus on using it in practical situations where alertness is required.

Common Mistakes

Learners often say '我留心了这个' (wǒ liúxīn le zhège) instead of '我留心这个' (wǒ liúxīn zhège), adding an unnecessary particle. Remember to keep it simple and direct.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 留心

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Component Characters

留liúto stay, to remain; to preserve, to keep; to leave a message; 
HSK 410 strokes田
View full entry
心xīnheart
HSK 44 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to be careful in Chinese

“to be careful” in Chinese is留心liúxīn

留心 means to be careful or to pay attention to something. It is commonly used when advising someone to be alert or to take notice of their surroundings or specific details, often in contexts where caution is necessary.

When to use 留心

留心 is generally used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with 注意 (zhùyì), which is more formal; 留心 implies a more personal touch. Be cautious of tone mistakes, as mispronouncing 留 could change the meaning.

留心 or something close to it

注意 (zhùyì) - use 留心 when suggesting a more personal, cautious attention, while 注意 is more general and can imply awareness without the same level of personal caution.

What learners get wrong

Learners often say '我留心了这个' (wǒ liúxīn le zhège) instead of '我留心这个' (wǒ liúxīn zhège), adding an unnecessary particle. Remember to keep it simple and direct.

Write 留心

留
心

Practice writing 留心 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 留心

留心 is more about personal vigilance and attentiveness, while 注意 is a more formal term for 'to pay attention'.

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