拘留 jūliú to detain (as a prisoner)
to detain (as a prisoner); to keep somebody in custody
How to remember 拘留: 拘 to detain + 留 remain = to detain (as a prisoner).
Characters
How it is used
- To detain in police custody - 行政拘留 (xíngzhèng jūliú) administrative detention, 拘留十五天 held for fifteen days.
- A legal term: police holding someone for a set period. Contrast 逮捕 (dàibǔ, formal arrest) and 监禁 (imprison).
Example sentences
- 警方拘留了他。 Jǐngfāng jūliú le tā.The police held him in custody.