B2 verb Formal 1 min read

挽留

wanliu /wǎn liú/
Practice it

To make an active effort to persuade someone not to leave.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Persuade someone to stay when they intend to leave.
  • Used in both professional and personal relationship contexts.
  • Implies an active effort to prevent departure.

1) 概览：挽留是一个动词，由“挽”（拉住）和“留”（留下）组成。它不仅仅是简单的“留住”，更强调在对方已有离开意向或动作时，通过言语、行动或情感上的联系进行劝阻。

2) 使用模式：挽留常用于人际交往中，宾语通常是人。句式结构多为“挽留某人”或“极力挽留”。它常出现在对方辞职、告别、结束访问或离开聚会的情境下。

3) 常见语境：在职场中，公司为了留住骨干人才会进行“挽留”；在社交中，朋友聚会结束时，主人可能会“挽留”客人多坐一会儿；在情感关系中，一方为了维持关系，可能会尝试“挽留”即将离开的另一方。

4) 近义词辨析：与“留住”相比，“挽留”更强调“劝说”的过程，带有主观意愿和情感色彩；而“留住”侧重于结果。与“挽救”不同，挽救通常指在危机中拯救，而挽留仅指阻止离开。

Examples

1

聚会结束时，主人热情地挽留客人多坐一会儿。

everyday

At the end of the party, the host warmly urged the guests to stay a bit longer.

2

公司高层决定采取加薪措施来挽留核心员工。

formal

The senior management decided to take measures like salary increases to retain core employees.

3

无论我怎么挽留，他还是头也不回地走了。

informal

No matter how I tried to persuade him to stay, he left without looking back.

4

在人才流失严重的行业，企业必须建立有效的挽留机制。

academic

In industries with high turnover, companies must establish effective retention mechanisms.

Common Collocations

极力挽留 try hard to persuade to stay
再三挽留 persuade repeatedly to stay
无法挽留 unable to keep someone

Common Phrases

挽留人才

retain talent

盛情挽留

insistently persuade to stay out of kindness

挽留不住

cannot persuade to stay

Often Confused With

挽留 vs 留住

Means to keep or retain. It is more about the result and can be used for things, whereas '挽留' is specifically for people and focuses on the act of persuasion.

挽留 vs 挽救

Means to save or rescue. It is used for situations in crisis or danger, not for preventing someone from leaving a place.

Grammar Patterns

极力挽留某人 对某人进行挽留 挽留不住某人

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The word '挽留' is formal and carries a sense of effort. It is commonly used in professional contexts regarding employee retention. When used in daily life, it implies a genuine desire for someone to remain.

Common Mistakes

The most common mistake is using '挽留' for inanimate objects like books or documents. Another error is confusing it with '挽救' (to save). Ensure the subject of the action is a person.

Tips

💡

Focus on the action of persuasion

Remember that '挽留' implies a verbal or emotional effort. It is not just about keeping someone there, but about the act of asking them to stay.

⚠️

Do not use for objects

Only use this verb for people. If you want to keep an object, use '保留' (preserve/keep) instead.

🌍

Politeness in Chinese culture

In Chinese culture, offering to '挽留' a guest after a meal is a sign of hospitality. It is often expected even if the guest declines.

Word Origin

The character '挽' originally meant to pull a carriage or draw a bow. Combined with '留', it evolved into the meaning of pulling someone back to prevent them from leaving.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, '挽留' is a polite gesture. Even if a guest is ready to leave, the host will often say '再坐一会儿' (stay a bit longer), which is a form of social '挽留'.

Memory Tip

Think of '挽' (pulling the arm) and '留' (staying). Imagine physically pulling someone's sleeve to ask them to stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

“留下”是一个中性词，指留在某地，不一定涉及劝说。而“挽留”强调了“劝说”和“不舍”的过程，即对方本来要走，是你让他留下的。

可以，常用于“公司极力挽留人才”这一语境。这表示公司通过加薪或升职等手段试图阻止员工离职。

这取决于语境。可以是礼貌性的挽留，也可以是情感深切、甚至带有哀求意味的挽留。

不可以，“挽留”的对象通常是人。如果是为了留住某物，通常使用“保留”或“留住”。

Test Yourself

fill blank

他执意要辞职，老板费尽口舌也没能___住他。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 挽留

“挽留”强调劝说的过程，符合老板费尽口舌的语境。

multiple choice

下列哪种情况不适合用挽留？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 把文件留在桌子上

挽留的对象必须是人。

sentence building

极力 / 挽留 / 我们 / 他 / 却 / 还是 / 走了

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 我们极力挽留他，他却还是走了。

正确的语序是主语+状语+动词+宾语。

Score: /3

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

retain English
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!