Meaning and Usage
"留守" (るす) means being away from home or absent, often used when someone is not at their residence or workplace. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation to indicate absence.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "留守" in contexts like answering the phone, where someone might say "留守です" to indicate they are not home. It is also used in phrases like "留守番電話" (answering machine) and "留守中" (while absent).
Collocations and Patterns
- 留守にする: to be away, to be absent
- 留守番電話: answering machine
- 留守中: during absence
These collocations are very common and useful for daily conversation.
Register and Nuance
"留守" is neutral and polite enough for everyday use. It is neither too formal nor too casual, making it suitable for both spoken and written Japanese.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "留守" with simply "不在" which also means absence but is more formal and used in official contexts. "留守" is more natural when talking about being away from home or not present in a casual setting.