lau4 suk1留宿
Jyutpinglau4 suk1
Yalelàuh sūk
Definition
To stay overnight; to lodge or sleep somewhere overnight.
neutraldaily actionsplaces
How it's used
While 留宿 conveys the meaning of staying overnight, it carries a more formal or institutional tone compared to the everyday term 過夜. You will frequently encounter it in official contexts like school dormitories, security arrangements, or formal guest policies. Using it in casual conversation can sound slightly stiff or overly polite.
Examples
He wants to stay overnight at your place tonight, is that okay?
This hotel does not provide overnight stay services.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 留宿 interchangeably with 過夜 in casual settings, but 留宿 is rarely used when talking about staying at a close friend's house. Stick to 過夜 for informal social situations to avoid sounding like you are reading from a rulebook.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
