aak1 sau2扼守

Jyutpingaak1 sau2

Yaleāak sáu

動詞

Definition

To strategically guard or defend a key pass or position using the natural advantages of the terrain.

neutralplacesother

How it's used

Focuses on the strategic advantage of terrain, implying that the location itself acts as a natural barrier or bottleneck. It is commonly used in historical or military contexts to describe how a small force can hold off a much larger one by controlling a key geographical point. While it sounds slightly more formal than everyday speech, it is still frequently used in news or storytelling to describe tactical positioning.

Examples

ni1呢go3個gwaan1關hau2口ak1扼sau2守zyu6住sing4成go3個saan1山guk1谷。

This mountain pass guards the entire valley.

keoi5佢dei6哋ak1扼sau2守zyu6住ni1呢tiu4條jiu3要dou6道，m4唔bei2畀jan4人gwo3過。

They are holding this vital route and won't let anyone pass.

Common phrases

ak1扼sau2守jiu3要dou6道

to guard a vital route

ak1扼sau2守gwaan1關hau2口

to guard a mountain pass

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simple verbs like 守 or 睇住, which lack the nuance of leveraging geographical features for defense. It is specifically about the relationship between the terrain and the defensive position.