留守（るす、rusu）
- absence (from home)

The Japanese word 留守, pronounced るす (rusu), primarily means "absence" or "being away from home." It refers to the state of not being present at one's residence, workplace, or a specific location. It can also be used figuratively to express a lack of attention or care.

⚫︎ 田中さんは留守です。 Translation: Tanaka-san is away from home. ⚫︎ 私は明日、一日中留守にします。 Translation: I will be away all day tomorrow. ⚫︎ 電話に出なくてすみません、少しの間留守にしていました。 Translation: Sorry I didn't answer the phone, I was away for a little while.

⚫︎ 留守 is used to describe a situation where a person is not at their usual location. It's commonly used when answering the phone or a doorbell when the person you are looking for is not present. ⚫︎ It can also be used in more formal settings, such as when leaving a message or informing someone of your absence. ⚫︎ The word 留守 can also be combined with other words to create more specific phrases, such as 留守番 (rusuban - house-sitting) or 留守電 (rusuden - answering machine).

⚫︎ The word is typically written with the kanji 留 (ryuu/ru - to stay, to detain) and 守 (shu/守 - to protect, to guard). ⚫︎ The reading るす (rusu) is in hiragana.

⚫︎ 不在 (fuzai) - absence (more formal) ⚫︎ 出かける (dekakeru) - to go out (implies a planned departure) ⚫︎ いない (inai) - not present (simple form) ⚫︎ 家を空ける (ie o akeru) - to be away from home (literally, to leave the house empty)

⚫︎ いる (iru) - to be present ⚫︎ 在宅 (zaitaku) - being at home (more formal)

すみません、山田さんは今留守です。 ・Translation: I'm sorry, Yamada-san is away right now. ・Explanation: This sentence is typically used when someone is calling or visiting and the person they want to see is not at home or at the office.

旅行中は、家は留守になります。 ・Translation: The house will be empty during the trip. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that no one will be home during the trip.

⚫︎ 留 (ru) originally meant "to stay" or "to remain." ⚫︎ 守 (shu) originally meant "to guard" or "to protect." ⚫︎ In the context of 留守, the combination implies that someone is "staying away" and therefore not "guarding" or "protecting" their home or usual place.