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留学 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
留学liúxuéto study abroadHSK 3, v, 18 strokes, rank #25428, Medium
liúxué(liu2xue2) T2
  1. 1to study abroad
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March 24, 2026

留学(留學)liúxué(liu2xue2)

留学 means 'to study abroad' and refers to the act of going to another country for the purpose of education. This term is commonly used among students who seek international experience and education, often at universities or colleges.

Strokes18Frequency#25428DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In China, studying abroad is often seen as a prestigious opportunity that can enhance one's career prospects and personal development. Many Chinese students pursue 留学 to gain international experience and improve their language skills.

Memory Tip

Think of 留 (liú) as 'to stay' and 学 (xué) as 'to learn'. Imagine a student staying in a foreign land to learn new knowledge, thus connecting the characters to the idea of studying abroad.

Meanings of 留学

liúxué(liu2xue2)
1to study abroad
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About 留学

留学Simplified
留學Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#25428Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 留学

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Podcast: 留学

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AI Study Notes for 留学

Quick Contrast

留学 (study abroad) vs 出国 (go abroad) — use 留学 when specifically referring to the purpose of education.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 留 (liú) and 学 (xué), as mispronouncing can change the meaning. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in educational discussions. Common collocations include '留学生活' (study abroad life) and '留学生' (international student).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 3 word, 留学 connects to other educational terms like 学校 (xuéxiào, school) and 学习 (xuéxí, to study). Focus on using it in sentences that describe plans or experiences related to studying abroad.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 留学 with 学习 (xuéxí, to study). For example, saying '我去留学中文' (I go to study Chinese abroad) is incorrect; it should be '我去留学' (I go to study abroad) and specify the subject separately.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 留学

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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
学xuéto learn
HSK 18 strokes子
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How to say to study abroad in Chinese

“to study abroad” in Chinese is留学liúxué

留学 means 'to study abroad' and refers to the act of going to another country for the purpose of education. This term is commonly used among students who seek international experience and education, often at universities or colleges.

When to use 留学

Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 留 (liú) and 学 (xué), as mispronouncing can change the meaning. This term is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in educational discussions. Common collocations include '留学生活' (study abroad life) and '留学生' (international student).

留学 or something close to it

留学 (study abroad) vs 出国 (go abroad) — use 留学 when specifically referring to the purpose of education.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 留学 with 学习 (xuéxí, to study). For example, saying '我去留学中文' (I go to study Chinese abroad) is incorrect; it should be '我去留学' (I go to study abroad) and specify the subject separately.

Write 留学

留
学

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

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Cultural Notes for 留学

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, studying abroad is often viewed as a rite of passage for young adults, while in China, it may carry more significant pressure to succeed and represent family expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions about 留学

You can use 留学 for various educational programs, including language courses, undergraduate and graduate degrees, and exchange programs.

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