to slip away

JLPT N5 13 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Nuances of (liū)

The character primarily means "to slip away" or "to sneak off". It can describe both physical slipping on a slippery surface and the act of quietly leaving a place without being noticed.

Common Contexts

  1. Physical slipping: Often used to warn about slipping on ice or wet floors, e.g., "小心" (The ice is slippery, be careful not to slip).

  2. Sneaking away: Used when someone leaves a place quietly or secretly, often to avoid attention or responsibility, e.g., "教室" (He slipped out of the classroom).

  3. Informal sneaking in: Sometimes used to describe sneaking into places without permission, such as "电影" (sneaking into the cinema).

Common Collocations

Register and Tone

is informal and often used in spoken language. It conveys a sense of stealth or casual slipping, not formal departure.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse with (zǒu, to walk/leave) which is more neutral and direct. implies stealth or slipping, often with a sense of avoiding notice.

Example Sentences

He slipped out of the classroom quietly when the teacher wasn't paying

The ice surface is very slippery, be careful not to slip and fall.

He sneaked into the cinema and watched the movie without buying a ticket.