Chinese word

残留

Pronunciation

Pinyincán liú

Meaning

  • verbremain

Example

咖啡的苦味还残留在杯子里。kā fēi de kǔ wèi hái cán liú zài bēi zi lǐ

The bitter taste of the coffee still remains in the cup.

Illustration for 残留 (remain)

More examples

事件过去多年，但不安仍残留在他心里。shì jiàn guò qù duō nián dàn bù ān réng cán liú zài tā xīn lǐ

The incident happened many years ago, but anxiety still remains in his heart.

Core concept

Something continues to occupy its old place after a process has removed or changed most of it.

Common phrases

  • 残留在杯子里cán liú zài bēi zi lǐ

    remain in the cup

  • 残留在记忆中cán liú zài jì yì zhōng

    remain in the memory

  • 残留在空气中cán liú zài kōng qì zhōng

    remain in the air

Similar words

留下liú xià: Putting an object, trace, or effect in a place and leaving it there after an action.
剩下shèng xià: Remaining in a smaller amount after use, removal, or a decrease in quantity.
遗留yí liú: Leaving an unwanted thing or unresolved problem as a result of something that happened before.
残存cán cún: Remaining in part after change, damage, or gradual loss.

Definition in Chinese

指物质或痕迹在经过清除、消耗或改变后仍然存在于原处或体内。zhǐ wù zhì huò hén jì zài jīng guò qīng chú xiāo hào huò gǎi biàn hòu réng rán cún zài yú yuán chù huò tǐ nèi

Word origin

残 (cán, "remaining") suggests an incomplete leftover, and 留 (liú, "stay") adds the idea of continuing in place, together forming 残留 (cánliú, "remain").

Usage tips

  • English "remain" commonly describes people, places, or objects that stay, but 残留 (cánliú, "remain") is especially useful for describing traces or substances left by an earlier process.

Other meanings

  • residuenoun
  • remnantsnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 残留物cán liú wùresiduenoun
  • 残留量cán liú liàngresidual amountnoun

Word lists with this word