gwaan1 ziu3關照关照
Jyutpinggwaan1 ziu3
Yalegwāan jiu
Definition
To look after or take care of someone, especially by a person with higher status or power.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Often used in professional or social hierarchies where a person in a position of influence provides support or favors to someone with less power. It carries a nuance of patronage or networking, implying that the person being looked after will benefit from the connection. It is frequently used in formal introductions or when asking for a favor, signaling a desire for a mutually beneficial relationship.
Examples
Thank you for looking after me all this time.
He got promoted, he should remember to look out for his old colleagues.
Related words
Common phrases
please look after me (a common polite phrase)
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 照顧, which is a more neutral term for general caretaking, such as looking after a child or a sick person. 關照 specifically implies a power dynamic or a social favor, making it inappropriate for simple caregiving tasks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
