hon1 sau2看守
Jyutpinghon1 sau2
Yalehōn sáu
Definition
To watch over, guard, or keep custody of someone or something.
neutralworkdaily actions
How it's used
While 看守 is understood in Cantonese, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer the phrasal verb 睇住 when talking about watching over or guarding something in daily life. Using 看守 often sounds slightly formal or like it belongs in a news report or a movie script about security guards. If you want to sound natural, reserve 看守 for official contexts like prison guards or security personnel.
Examples
They take turns guarding this warehouse, it's very tiring.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 看守 with 睇住. Remember that 睇住 is the versatile, everyday way to express keeping an eye on someone or something, whereas 看守 implies a more formal duty or a stationary post.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
