保留

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 保留(ほりゅう) means leaving a decision or process temporarily pending rather than settling it immediately.
• Basic usage: It describes holding a plan until a budget is decided or placing a call on hold to check something.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Holding and stopping
  • 保留 focuses on waiting while leaving a decision open; 中止 focuses on stopping an ongoing or planned activity.
• Meaning in a phone call
  • 電話を保留にする means putting the caller on hold to wait rather than ending the call.