溜 (liū) - To slip away & to slide

溜Tone 1

liū ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

林伦

溜 · liū

To slip away;

to slide;

to skate;

to sneak off;

smooth;

slick;

skilled;

also refers to a cooking method of quick-frying with starch.

To slip awayto slideto skate

Usage highlights

To slip awayIce skatingTo sneak inSlipperySkilled/proficientTo slip out

Synonyms

  • 滑— slippery, smooth
  • 逃— to escape, flee
  • 溜达— to stroll, wander

Antonyms

  • 停— to stop, halt
  • 呆— to stay, remain
  • 涩— rough, unsmooth

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He slipped away quietly (溜走了).
  • Children love to slide on the ice (溜冰).
  • The thief sneaked into the building (溜进).
  • This road is very slippery when wet (溜滑).
  • She is skilled at playing the piano (溜熟).

Collocations

  • To slip away(溜走)
  • Ice skating(溜冰)
  • To sneak in(溜进)
  • Slippery(溜滑)
  • Skilled/proficient(溜熟)
  • To slip out(溜出)

Idioms

  • Slippery as an eel(滑不溜秋)
  • To slip through the net(溜之大吉)
  • Smooth and slick(油光溜滑)
  • To sneak away(溜之乎也)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese cuisine, '溜' refers to a cooking technique where ingredients are quick-fried and then coated with a starch-thickened sauce.
  • The character conveys both positive meanings (skillfulness, smoothness) and negative connotations (sneakiness, evasion).
  • Ice skating and roller skating activities are commonly referred to using '溜' in Chinese.

FAQ