1.
to keep, to hold in place, to retain
To keep something from moving or disappearing. Used for keeping memories, records, or things in a certain state.
記録に留める。
To put on record.
この光景を目に留めておきたい。
I want to keep this sight in my eyes.
心に留めておいてください。
Please keep it in mind.
2.
to limit, to hold back, to restrain
To keep something within a certain range or prevent it from going further.
被害を最小限に留める。
To keep damage to a minimum.
怒りを抑えて、発言を控えめに留めた。
Holding back my anger, I kept my remarks restrained.
出費を必要最低限に留めるようにしている。
I try to keep expenses to the bare minimum.
留める is the transitive counterpart of 留まる.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: Transitive (他動詞)
- Intransitive pair: 留まる (to stay, to remain)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 記録に留める: to record, to put on record
- 心に留める: to keep in mind, to bear in mind
- 目に留める: to take note of, to notice
- 最小限に留める: to keep to a minimum
- 〜に留めておく: to keep at ~, to leave at ~
USAGE: The pattern 〜に留めておく (to leave at a certain level) is very common in business and news contexts.
Related Words
Pair verb:
留まる (intransitive)