HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2538, Very Hard
溜
liū
to escape in stealth
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2538, Very Hard
溜
liū
to skate
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2538, Very Hard
溜
liū
to slip, to slide, to glide; slippery
HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 氵, rank #2538, Very Hard
liū(liu1) T1
1to slip away
2to escape in stealth
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March 24, 2026
溜liū(liu1)
The character 溜 (liū) primarily means 'to slip away' or 'to glide'. It is often used in contexts where someone or something moves smoothly and quietly, such as escaping unnoticed or skating. This word can also describe surfaces that are slippery, making movement easier and faster.
Strokes13Radical氵Frequency#2538DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of stealthy movement is often associated with cleverness and resourcefulness, reflecting values found in literature and historical tales, where characters often need to escape from pursuers.
Memory Tip
Imagine a smooth, icy surface where a skater glides effortlessly. The character 溜 has the water radical 氵, suggesting something fluid and slippery, while the remaining part represents movement, much like a skater slipping across ice.
Meanings of 溜
liū(liu1)
1to slip away
2to escape in stealth
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 溜
溜Simplified
13Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2538Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 溜
Podcast: 溜
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AI Study Notes for 溜
Quick Contrast
滑 (huá) vs 滑溜 (huáliū) — choose 溜 (liū) when emphasizing a smooth, quiet escape, while 滑 (huá) focuses more on the slippery quality itself.
Usage Notes
In informal contexts, 溜 can imply sneaking away from a situation without drawing attention. It's often paired with words like '走' (zǒu, to leave) to emphasize the act of slipping away. Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it could change its meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 溜 connects with other verbs of motion and stealth. Students should focus on its applications in different scenarios, especially in storytelling or describing actions, to enhance their vocabulary around movement.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 溜 with 滑 (huá) since both relate to smooth movement. For instance, saying '我喜欢溜冰' (wǒ xǐhuān liū bīng) is correct, but saying '我喜欢滑冰' (wǒ xǐhuān huá bīng) can also be correct, depending on the context. Note the difference in nuance when using each verb.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 溜
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 留 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half留 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 溜? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 溜?
Decomposition of 溜
IDS Structure⿰氵留
溜Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
留liu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 溜?
How to say to slip away in Chinese
“to slip away” in Chinese is溜liū
The character 溜 (liū) primarily means 'to slip away' or 'to glide'. It is often used in contexts where someone or something moves smoothly and quietly, such as escaping unnoticed or skating. This word can also describe surfaces that are slippery, making movement easier and faster.
When to use 溜
In informal contexts, 溜 can imply sneaking away from a situation without drawing attention. It's often paired with words like '走' (zǒu, to leave) to emphasize the act of slipping away. Be cautious with tone; mispronouncing it could change its meaning entirely.
溜 or something close to it
滑 (huá) vs 滑溜 (huáliū) — choose 溜 (liū) when emphasizing a smooth, quiet escape, while 滑 (huá) focuses more on the slippery quality itself.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 溜 with 滑 (huá) since both relate to smooth movement. For instance, saying '我喜欢溜冰' (wǒ xǐhuān liū bīng) is correct, but saying '我喜欢滑冰' (wǒ xǐhuān huá bīng) can also be correct, depending on the context. Note the difference in nuance when using each verb.
Write 溜
溜
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Practice writing 溜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 溜
溜 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
公司对待我的态度就好像是我上班时____号了似的。
The company treated me as though I were skiving.
Example Sentences for 溜 (10)
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1
公司对待我的态度就好像是我上班时溜号了似的。
gōng sī duì dài wǒ de tài dù jiù hǎo xiàng shì wǒ shàng bān shí liū hào le sì de。
