keep in reserve; hold back; leave a way out
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to keep something in reserve; to hold back a plan or resource for future contingencies; to leave oneself a way out
Commonly used in competitive contexts such as chess, negotiations, or conflicts. In colloquial speech, may take the -r suffix (留后手儿).
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
xǐ喜
huan欢
liú留
hòu后
shǒu手
，
bù不
kěn肯
bǎ把
suǒ所
yǒu有
běn本
shì事
dōu都
ná拿
chū出
lái来
。
He always likes to hold something back, unwilling to reveal all of his abilities.
Xià下
qí棋
yào要
liú留
hòu后
shǒu手
，
bié别
bǎ把
qí棋
zǐ子
zǒu走
sǐ死
le了
。
When playing chess, you must keep a reserve move—don't trap your own pieces.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
yào要
liú留
hòu后
shǒu手
，
yǐ以
fáng防
wàn万
yī一
。
You need to leave yourself a way out on this matter, just in case.
Zuò做
rén人
yào要
guāng光
míng明
lěi磊
luò落
，
bù不
yào要
zǒng总
xiǎng想
zhe着
liú留
hòu后
shǒu手
。
One should be open and aboveboard, not always scheming to keep hidden reserves.