<p>The level of care or attention or focus:
留心 > 留意 > 留神</p>

<p>so for example if you agreed to help somebody to look into something, you can say:
我会给你留心的 sounds most serious and dedicated</p>

<p>我会给你留意的 also OK, but no promises</p>

<p>我会给你留神的 only if I have the spare time and engery</p>

<p>But, like the examples you have mentioned, the usages are mostly dictated by conventions than anything intrinsic.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-04T03:16:57.297Z
2015-11-04T03:16:57.297Z
Siyi Deng
<p>Some of the Chinese word is influence by culture of Buddha, in order to explain 心，意，神. I think need the ancient Chinese wisdom to explain it...</p>

<p>I tried to explain it from what I know, here you can reference it</p>

<p>心：无形无相 = heart/core：(shapeless, formless)</p>

<p>意：眼耳鼻舌身意的六根之一 </p>

<p>神：let break this word and see, it's the combination of 示 and 申</p>

<p>示 means show</p>

<p>申 come from the basic word of 田(means farm or field)</p>

<p>When 田 become 申 it's show it connected or pass through to sky and ground or top or bottom, so this word 神 have the meaning of god.</p>

<p>When you are using 留神 this word it's have some meaning like stay focus.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-05T16:53:00.907Z
I think the meaning of 神 in 留神 means *spirit*, not "god"
thinwa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-06T02:36:39.107Z
I never say that meaning of 神 in 留神 is god
Le Parkour
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-06T02:37:18.987Z
I was explaining the single word bro
Le Parkour
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-05T09:25:59.767Z
2015-11-06T04:36:51.457Z
2015-11-06T04:36:51.457Z
Le Parkour
<p>You should understand the three characters in the words firstly.
心：Mind
意：Sense
神: Focus</p>

<p>So add 留(<em>keep</em>) before them, becomes:</p>

<ul>
<li>留心：Keep in mind --> remember</li>
<li>留意：Keep in sensitive --> ?</li>
<li>留神：Keep on focus  --> look out / be careful</li>
</ul>

<p>My translation may not accurate in English, if someone have better translation, please comment below.</p>

<p>In your example, </p>

<ul>
<li>sentence 1 talking about reading/studying, so 留心 should be the only correct word. </li>
<li>Sentence 2, here 留心 is separated, it's a derivative usage in my opinion. It means "keep defensive (because I remember he did something bad.)". </li>
<li>Sentence 3, I don't understand the meaning... and I don't want to guess (although I could) since it's a tutorial/exam, it should be clear.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-04T04:39:04.497Z
2015-11-04T14:32:59.167Z
2015-11-04T14:32:59.167Z
thinwa
<p>I am now learning 近义词 and got a problem with distinguishing the difference between  留神，留意，留心. The textbook says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他干什么特别留心，看书时也常常做笔记 （留神and留意arent allowed here）<br>
  多亏我对他留了一点心，这个情况没有告诉他 （留神 and 留意 arent allowed here）<br>
  你看得出来他吗？ 我没有留意 （留神 and 留心 arent allowed here） </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Why are some correct and some wrong?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-04T16:04:04.723Z
This is a great project you're embarked on.
brannerchinese
<meaning><difference>
Difference between 留神，留意，留心？
# Difference between 留神，留意，留心？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-04)

I am now learning 近义词 and got a problem with distinguishing the difference between 留神，留意，留心. The textbook says:

> 他干什么特别留心，看书时也常常做笔记 （留神and留意arent allowed here）  
> 多亏我对他留了一点心，这个情况没有告诉他 （留神 and 留意 arent allowed here）  
> 你看得出来他吗？ 我没有留意 （留神 and 留心 arent allowed here）

Why are some correct and some wrong?

**Tags:** meaning, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is a great project you're embarked on.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-11-04. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

You should understand the three characters in the words firstly.
心：Mind
意：Sense
神: Focus

So add 留(*keep*) before them, becomes:

* 留心：Keep in mind --> remember
* 留意：Keep in sensitive --> ?
* 留神：Keep on focus --> look out / be careful

My translation may not accurate in English, if someone have better translation, please comment below.

In your example,

* sentence 1 talking about reading/studying, so 留心 should be the only correct word.
* Sentence 2, here 留心 is separated, it's a derivative usage in my opinion. It means "keep defensive (because I remember he did something bad.)".
* Sentence 3, I don't understand the meaning... and I don't want to guess (although I could) since it's a tutorial/exam, it should be clear.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-11-04. Score: 1

The level of care or attention or focus:
留心 > 留意 > 留神

so for example if you agreed to help somebody to look into something, you can say:
我会给你留心的 sounds most serious and dedicated

我会给你留意的 also OK, but no promises

我会给你留神的 only if I have the spare time and engery

But, like the examples you have mentioned, the usages are mostly dictated by conventions than anything intrinsic.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-11-05. Score: 1

Some of the Chinese word is influence by culture of Buddha, in order to explain 心，意，神. I think need the ancient Chinese wisdom to explain it...

I tried to explain it from what I know, here you can reference it

心：无形无相 = heart/core：(shapeless, formless)

意：眼耳鼻舌身意的六根之一

神：let break this word and see, it's the combination of 示 and 申

示 means show

申 come from the basic word of 田(means farm or field)

When 田 become 申 it's show it connected or pass through to sky and ground or top or bottom, so this word 神 have the meaning of god.

When you are using 留神 this word it's have some meaning like stay focus.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I think the meaning of 神 in 留神 means *spirit*, not "god"  
> **username_3**: I never say that meaning of 神 in 留神 is god  
> **username_3**: I was explaining the single word bro  

---

