liúyán: 留言 - To Leave a Message, Comment

• Keywords: liuyan, liúyán, 留言, leave a message in Chinese, how to say comment in Chinese, leave a voicemail, online comments, message board, Chinese internet slang, WeChat comments, Weibo comments.
• Summary: Learn how to use 留言 (liúyán), the essential Chinese word for “to leave a message” or “a comment.” This term is vital for modern communication, covering everything from leaving a voicemail or a sticky note to posting online comments on social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use with many examples, helping you master how to leave messages and interact online in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liúyán
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To leave spoken or written words for someone who is not present; the message or comment that is left.
• In a Nutshell: 留言 (liúyán) is the all-purpose term for leaving information for someone to see or hear later. Think of it as the action of leaving a note on the fridge, recording a voicemail, or typing a comment under a YouTube video. It can be the verb (“to leave a message”) or the noun (“the message”). The key concept is non-simultaneous communication—you leave the words, and they are received later.

• 留 (liú): To leave behind, to remain, to stay. Imagine leaving a gift for a friend before you go.
• 言 (yán): Word, speech, to say. The character originally resembled a mouth with a tongue, representing speech.
• The two characters combine literally and logically to mean “to leave behind words,” which perfectly captures the essence of leaving a message or comment.

While “leaving a message” is a universal concept, the culture around 留言 (liúyán) in China has a unique modern dimension, largely shaped by the internet. Historically, leaving messages was a formal affair, often through letters or message boxes in a work unit (`单位`, dānwèi). Today, the act of 留言 has become a primary form of public discourse and social participation. In the West, “leaving a comment” can sometimes be a secondary activity. In China, the comment section (`评论区`, pínglùn qū) of a news article or a Weibo post is often a main event. It's a vibrant, chaotic, and powerful space where public opinion is formed and expressed. Unlike the often private nature of a Western voicemail, a 留言 in China is frequently public and social. To 留言 on a friend's WeChat Moments is an act of social maintenance, showing you are paying attention. To 留言 on a public post is to join a massive, real-time conversation. This reflects a cultural tendency towards collective expression, where individual voices join a larger chorus to discuss, debate, and even influence events.

留言 is an everyday word used in both digital and physical contexts.

This is the most common context for 留言 today.

• Social Media (WeChat, Weibo, Douyin): You 留言 under posts to react, ask questions, or show support. The “comment” button is often labeled 留言.
• Blogs and News Sites: The comment section at the bottom of an article is the 留言 area.
• E-commerce (Taobao, JD.com): Before buying, you might 留言 on a product page to ask the seller a question. This is often public for other potential buyers to see.
• Forums and Message Boards (`留言板`): Online communities are built around users leaving messages and posts for each other.

• Voicemail: The automated voice on a phone will ask you to 留言 after the tone.
• Physical Notes: If you leave a sticky note for your roommate, you are giving them a 留言.
• Guestbooks: At weddings, museums, or special events, you might be invited to 留言 in a guestbook (`留言簿`, liúyánbù) to leave your good wishes or thoughts.

• Example 1:
  • 我看到了你的留言。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kàndào le nǐ de liúyán.
  • English: I saw your message.
  • Analysis: Here, 留言 is used as a noun to mean “the message” that was left. This is a very common and basic usage.
• Example 2:
  • 请在“嘀”声后留言。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài “dī” shēng hòu liúyán.
  • English: Please leave a message after the beep.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of 留言 used as a verb in the context of voicemail.
• Example 3:
  • 很多人在这篇文章下面留言，讨论这个问题。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén zài zhè piān wénzhāng xiàmiàn liúyán, tǎolùn zhège wèntí.
  • English: Many people left comments under this article to discuss this issue.
  • Analysis: This shows the modern, online usage of 留言 as a verb, equivalent to “to post a comment.”
• Example 4:
  • 你有什么问题，可以随时给我留言。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shénme wèntí, kěyǐ suíshí gěi wǒ liúyán.
  • English: If you have any questions, you can leave me a message anytime.
  • Analysis: A friendly and common invitation. “给我留言” (gěi wǒ liúyán) literally means “give me a message,” a standard way to phrase it.
• Example 5:
  • 他给我写了一张留言条，说他先走了。
  • Pinyin: Tā gěi wǒ xiě le yī zhāng liúyántiáo, shuō tā xiān zǒu le.
  • English: He wrote me a note (message slip) saying he left first.
  • Analysis: The suffix `条 (tiáo)` makes it clear that the message is a physical slip of paper, a note.
• Example 6:
  • 他的留言太不礼貌了，所以被管理员删除了。
  • Pinyin: Tā de liúyán tài bù lǐmào le, suǒyǐ bèi guǎnlǐyuán shānchú le.
  • English: His comment was too impolite, so it was deleted by the administrator.
  • Analysis: Using 留言 (as a noun) to refer to a specific online comment that has consequences.
• Example 7:
  • 欢迎大家在我们的网站上留言互动。
  • Pinyin: Huānyíng dàjiā zài wǒmen de wǎngzhàn shàng liúyán hùdòng.
  • English: We welcome everyone to leave comments and interact on our website.
  • Analysis: A formal invitation used by companies or organizations to encourage engagement.
• Example 8:
  • 我打他电话，但他没接，我只好给他留言了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ dǎ tā diànhuà, dàn tā méi jiē, wǒ zhǐhǎo gěi tā liúyán le.
  • English: I called him, but he didn't pick up, so I had to leave him a message.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a choice being made—direct communication failed, so the fallback is to 留言.
• Example 9:
  • 这个视频太搞笑了，我在下面留言说：“哈哈哈”。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shìpín tài gǎoxiào le, wǒ zài xiàmiàn liúyán shuō: “Hāhāhā”.
  • English: This video is hilarious, I left a comment below saying: “Hahaha”.
  • Analysis: Shows the informal, everyday use of 留言 for simple reactions on social media.
• Example 10:
  • 婚礼入口处有一个留言簿，请来宾签名留言。
  • Pinyin: Hūnlǐ rùkǒu chù yǒu yī gè liúyánbù, qǐng láibīn qiānmíng liúyán.
  • English: There is a guestbook at the entrance of the wedding, guests are invited to sign and leave a message.
  • Analysis: This example cleverly uses 留言 first as part of a compound noun (`留言簿`, guestbook) and then as a verb (`留言`, to leave a message).

• `留言 (liúyán)` vs. `评论 (pínglùn)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 留言 (liúyán): More general. It can be a simple note, a voicemail, or a general comment. It often implies leaving information or a simple reaction.
  • 评论 (pínglùn): Means “to comment on,” “to review,” or “critique.” It implies more analysis or judgment. You 评论 a movie, a policy, or a performance. In many online contexts they are interchangeable, but 评论 has a more critical or analytical flavor. You wouldn't use 评论 for leaving a note for your roommate.
• `留言 (liúyán)` vs. `消息 (xiāoxi)`:
  • 留言 (liúyán): Asynchronous. You leave it for someone to see later.
  • 消息 (xiāoxi): Means “news,” “information,” or “message.” In modern chat apps like WeChat, `消息` refers to the real-time messages you exchange in a conversation.
  • Incorrect: `我给你发一个留言。` (I'll send you a liúyán.)
  • Correct: `我给你留个言。` (I'll leave you a message.) or `我给你发个消息。` (I'll send you a message [on a chat app].)
• Common Mistake: Thinking 留言 is only for written words. It can also be for a spoken message, as in a voicemail (`语音留言`, yǔyīn liúyán).

• 评论 (pínglùn) - A comment or review, often more analytical or critical than a simple `留言`.
• 消息 (xiāoxi) - News, information, or a message, especially in the context of real-time chat.
• 短信 (duǎnxìn) - An SMS text message sent via a cellular network.
• 回复 (huífù) - To reply. This is the action you take in response to a `留言` or `消息`.
• 便条 (biàntiáo) - A brief, informal note (a physical type of `留言`).
• 留言板 (liúyánbǎn) - A message board or guestbook, a place specifically for leaving `留言`.
• 私信 (sīxìn) - A private message or direct message (DM) on a social platform.
• 发帖 (fātiě) - To make a post in an online forum, which is an invitation for others to `留言`.
• 语音 (yǔyīn) - Voice. Often combined as in `语音留言` (yǔyīn liúyán) to mean “voicemail.”