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守望 (shǒu wàng) — to keep watch, to guard

Definition

Literary verb meaning to keep watch or guard over a place, often alone and over time (a tower, a coast, a field). It implies steady, patient vigilance rather than active defense.

verb
to keep watchto guard

Examples

  • 守望。
    Tā dú zì zài tǎ lóu shàng shǒu wàng zhe yuǎn fāng.
    He kept watch alone in the tower, looking into the distance.
  • 守望，。
    Cūn mín men lún liú shǒu wàng mài tián, fáng zhǐ yě shòu pò huài.
    The villagers took turns guarding the wheat fields to prevent wild animals from damaging them.
  • 守望。
    Zhè zuò dēng tǎ yǐ jīng shǒu wàng hǎi àn yì bǎi nián le.
    This lighthouse has been keeping watch over the coast for a hundred years.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

守shǒuguard
望wàngwatch

守 and 望 both mean watch or guard, so together they describe keeping watch.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →
Appears in
Safety & Danger

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