Stay vs. remain

Sometimes, but it is difficult to answer without details or examples.

We stayed at Hotel X, and we remained there after our friends left.

AnonymousCan they be used interchangeably?

No.

You can say, "The crystal vase was broken. This piece is all that remains of it." It's impossible to say, "This piece is all that stays of it".

You can say, "We want to stay at a luxury hotel." You can't get the same meaning across if you say, "We want to remain at a luxury hotel."

Actually, in an example mentioned above "The crystal vase was broken. This piece is all that remains of it", the second meaning of remain is used which means to be left after being destroyed,used or gone.

You can say five minutes remaining because you are talking about sth that has been left from the whole and apparantly, you can not say five minutes staying.

Thank you for your answers