hon1 gun2看管
Jyutpinghon1 gun2
Yalehōn gún
Definition
To look after, guard, or keep an eye on, especially property or belongings.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
While 看管 is often used in formal written contexts or by authorities, the spoken equivalent 睇住 is used in almost every daily situation. Using 看管 in casual conversation can sound overly stiff or like you are a security guard giving an official instruction. It is specifically associated with preventing theft or loss rather than general caretaking like 照顧.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 睇住 with 照顧. Use 照顧 when talking about looking after people or pets, whereas 睇住 is for keeping an eye on objects to ensure they remain safe.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
