Chinese word

留念

Pronunciation

Pinyinliú niàn

Meaning

  • verbsave as a keepsake

Example

他把信件收藏起来留念。tā bǎ xìn jiàn shōu cáng qǐ lái liú niàn

He saves the letters as a keepsake.

Illustration for 留念 (save as a keepsake)

More examples

我们在毕业典礼上合影留念。wǒ men zài bì yè dián lǐ shàng hé yǐng liú niàn

We took a group photo at the graduation ceremony as a keepsake.

Core concept

Something from a person or event is held onto as a lasting sign of remembrance.

Common phrases

  • 合影留念hé yǐng liú niàn

    take a group photo as a keepsake

  • 拍照留念pāi zhào liú niàn

    take a photo as a keepsake

Similar words

纪念jì niàn: Marking an important person or event with an object or action keeps its memory from being forgotten.
收藏shōu cáng: Gathering valuable objects or materials and keeping them carefully creates a personal collection.
保存bǎo cún: Keeping objects or data in their present condition allows them to last for a long time.
留存liú cún: Keeping documents or records makes them available for later reference or use.

Definition in Chinese

把某物收藏或保留起来，作为纪念或表示怀念的举动或表示法。bǎ mǒu wù shōu cáng huò bǎo liú qǐ lái zuò wéi jì niàn huò biǎo shì huái niàn de jǔ dòng huò biǎo shì fǎ

Word origin

留 (liú, "to keep") + 念 (niàn, "remembrance") form a compound that connects preserving something with remembering what it represents.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the word can frame a simple shared photo or visit as something worth remembering, giving an ordinary social moment a commemorative tone.

Opposites

Related words

  • 留念品liú niàn pǐnkeepsakenoun
  • 留念照liú niàn zhàocommemorative photonoun

Word lists with this word