留守

るす
Alternative writings: 留主
JLPT:N4
Frequency:
1

Absence from home; being away from one's residence.

NounIrregular VerbTransitive VerbIntransitive VerbNoun Taking 'の'

Examples

今、社長は留守です。午後には戻る予定です。

The president is away right now. He is expected back in the afternoon.

週末は家族で出かけるので留守にします。

I'll be away this weekend because my family and I are going out.

宅配業者に『留守です』と言われて再配達を頼んだ。

The delivery person said 'No one is home,' so I requested a re-delivery.

2

House-sitting; the act of staying at or looking after a house while the owner is away; a house-sitter.

NounIrregular VerbTransitive VerbIntransitive Verb

Examples

出張中なので、友人に留守を頼んだ。

Since I'm on a business trip, I asked a friend to look after the house.

旅行中は隣の人に留守番をお願いしたほうが安心だ。

It's safer to ask a neighbor to watch the house while traveling.

3

Neglecting duties (e.g., one's studies) or being inattentive; a state of being mentally absent (often expressed as お留守になる).

Noun

Examples

最近彼は授業中にお留守になることが多い。

Lately he has often been absent-minded during class.

親が忙しくて、子供の勉強が留守になっていた。

Because the parents were busy, the child's studies were neglected.

Word Relationships

Synonyms
Antonym