baa2 sau2把守
Jyutpingbaa2 sau2
Yalebá sáu
Definition
To guard or defend a place to prevent intruders from entering or occupying it.
colloquialdaily actionsplaces
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of standing guard or securing a strategic point like a gate or a bridge. It carries a slightly formal or military undertone compared to more common verbs like 看守 or 睇住, which are used for general supervision or watching over something.
Examples
They are guarding the entrance and not letting anyone in.
Who is responsible for guarding this place?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where 把 is a grammatical particle. In Cantonese, 把守 is strictly a verb and cannot be used to introduce an object in the way Mandarin speakers use the 把-construction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
