bou2 lau4保留

Jyutpingbou2 lau4

Yalebóu làuh

動詞Common

Definition

To retain, keep, or reserve.

neutraldaily actionsother

How it's used

Used when referring to keeping something in its original state or preventing it from being removed or forgotten. It often implies a conscious effort to maintain a quality, a memory, or a physical object despite changes occurring around it.

Examples

le1呢fan6份man4文gin2件ngo5我wui2會bou2保lau4留zyu6住，m4唔wui2會deu6掉zo2咗keoi5佢。

I will keep this document and not throw it away.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得ni1呢go3個cyun4傳tung2統jing1應goi1該bou2保lau4留lok6落heoi3去me1咩？

Do you think this tradition should be kept going?

Common phrases

bou2保lau4留ji3意gin3見

to reserve one's opinion

bou2保lau4留sat6實lik6力

to save one's strength

Common mistake

Avoid using this for simply keeping or storing physical objects in a casual sense, where 留住 or 擺住 is more natural. It carries a slightly formal or abstract weight that makes it sound odd if used for everyday items like groceries or small personal belongings.