Explore each form from the oldest known stage to today.
The character 留 (liú) originally depicted a field (田) with flowing water or irrigation channels, representing the concept of 'stopping' or 'retaining' water in agricultural fields. Over time, it evolved to mean 'to stay,' 'to remain,' or 'to detain' more broadly. The Liushutong form shows an early variant with 田 above a flowing element, which standardized into the modern 留 shape with 田 over 卯. Arrived in Japan: The character 留 arrived in Japan by at least the 5th-6th centuries CE, during the period when Chinese writing was systematically imported to Japan along with Buddhism and other elements of Chinese culture. It was incorporated into the Japanese writing system as a kanji, reading as 'ryū' in on'yomi (Chinese reading) and 'todomaru/ru' in kun'yomi (Japanese reading).