HSK · Level 115
45 words
Chinese word
溜
Pronunciation
Pinyinliū
Meaning
- verbsneak out
Example
孩子趁父母不注意，偷偷溜出门玩。hái zi chèn fù mǔ bú zhù yì tōu tōu liū chū mén wán
The child sneaks out to play when the parents aren't looking.
More examples
他趁夜色，悄悄溜进图书馆借书。tā chèn yè sè qiāo qiāo liū jìn tú shū guǎn jiè shū
Under cover of night, he quietly sneaks into the library to borrow books.
Core concept
Someone slips away from a room or group while attention is elsewhere, like a smooth movement that avoids notice.
Common phrases
溜出门liū chū mén
sneak out
溜走liū zǒu
slip away
溜进图书馆liū jìn tú shū guǎn
sneak into the library
Similar words
溜走liū zǒu: Leave a place quietly and without being noticed.
逃跑táo pǎo: Run away to escape danger or being chased.
离开lí kāi: Leave one place and go somewhere else.
走掉zǒu diào: Go away from a place and no longer be seen there.
Definition in Chinese
偷偷地从人群或屋内溜出，动作轻而隐蔽，通常指暂时离开或悄悄出去。tōu tōu dì cóng rén qún huò wū nèi liū chū dòng zuò qīng ér yǐn bì tōng cháng zhǐ zàn shí lí kāi huò qiāo qiāo chū qù
Word origin
溜 (liū, "to slip away") is formed with the water radical and 留 (liú, "remain") for sound, a structure that suits its association with flowing or sliding and its later sense of leaving discreetly.
Usage tips
- The verb often appears with a directional complement, and that added part shows whether the focus is getting out, getting away, or reaching another place.