处 chǔ / chù — to reside; to live; to dwell; to be in; to stay; get along with
这件事很难处理。Zhè jiàn shì hěn nán chǔ lǐ.This matter is hard to handle.
Common words: 到处 (dào chù)、好处 (hǎo chǔ)、坏处 (huài chu)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to stay"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to stay", including 处 (chǔ / chù), 留 (liú), 栖 (qī / xī). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to stay" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 处 (chǔ / chù), 留 (liú), 栖 (qī / xī) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chǔ, chù, liú, qī, xī — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 处 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 处 chǔ / chùto reside; to live; to dwell; to be in; to stay; get along withUseful words: 到处, 好处
- 留 liúleave (message); to retain; to stay; to remain; to keep; to preserveUseful words: 留下, 留学生
- 栖 qī / xīto roost; to inhabit; to stay; habitat; to roost; to inhabitUseful words: 两栖, 栖地
Common words for these 3 "to stay" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 处 (chǔ / chù) — so "to stay" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
到处dào chùeverywhere好处hǎo chǔeasy to get along with坏处huài chuharm; troubles留下liú xiàto leave behind; to stay behind; to remain; to keep留学生liú xué shēngstudent studying abroad; returned student; foreign student; international student保留bǎo liúto keep; to retain; to have reservations (about sth); to hold back (from saying sth)两栖liǎng qīamphibious; dual-talented; able to work in two different lines栖地qī dìhabitat栖身qī shēnto stay at; to live in (temporarily)
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to stay".
留 liú — leave (message); to retain; to stay; to remain; to keep; to preserve
请把座位留给老人。Qǐng bǎ zuò wèi liú gěi lǎo rén.Please leave the seat for the elderly.
Common words: 留下 (liú xià)、留学生 (liú xué shēng)、保留 (bǎo liú)
栖 qī / xī — to roost; to inhabit; to stay; habitat; to roost; to inhabit
夜晚，鸟儿都栖息在树枝上。Yè wǎn, niǎo ér dōu qī xī zài shù zhī shàng.At night, the birds all perch on the branches.
Common words: 两栖 (liǎng qī)、栖地 (qī dì)、栖身 (qī shēn)
All 3 characters
Open 处、留、栖 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.