溜

2 readings · tap one to hear it

to slip away; to escape in stealth; to skate

Sound it out + = · + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

氵 meaning “water” + 留 sound ( liú )

Components 氵留

slide · Heisig RSH #1108

水 water + 留 stay

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
溜之大吉	liū zhī dà jí	to steal away; to beat it
花式溜冰	huā shì liū bīng	figure skating
黄不溜秋	huáng bù liū qiū	yellowish; dirty yellow
黑不溜秋	hēi bù liū qiū	dark and swarthy
溜边儿	liū biān r	to keep to the edge (of path, river etc); (fig.) to keep out of trouble; to avoid getting …
酸不溜秋	suān bu liū qiū	see 酸不溜丟\|酸不溜丢[suan1 bu5 liu1 diu1]
一溜烟	yī liù yān	like a wisp of smoke; (to disappear etc) in an instant
说溜嘴	shuō liū zuǐ	to make a slip of the tongue
灰不溜秋	huī bu liū qiū	see 灰不溜丟\|灰不溜丢[hui1 bu5 liu1 diu1]
没溜儿	méi liù r	(dialect) silly
顺口溜	shùn kǒu liū	popular piece of doggerel; common phrase repeated as a jingle
溜冰场	liū bīng chǎng	ice rink; skating rink
出溜	chū liu	to slip; to slide
开溜	kāi liū	to leave in stealth; to slip away
光溜	guāng liu	smooth; slippery
随大溜	suí dà liù	to follow the crowd; going with the tide
溜达	liū da	to stroll; to go for a walk
溜号	liū hào	(coll.) to slink off
溜边	liū biān	to keep to the edge (of path, river etc); fig. to keep out of trouble; to avoid getting in…
糟溜黄鱼片	zāo liū huáng yú piàn	stir-fried yellow fish filet

Characters sharing the sound component 留 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
留 sound part	liú	to stay, to remain; to preserve, to keep; to leave a message;
瘤	liú	tumor, lump, goiter
榴	liú	pomegranate
遛	liù	to walk, to stroll
鹠	liú	owl
骝	liú	a legendary horse
熘	liū	to steam, to stir-fry