守 (shǒu) — to guard, to defend, to keep watch; to abide by, to observe (rules, law, discipline); to keep, to maintain (a secret, a promise)
Definition
守 covers both senses here: 'to guard/keep watch' (like 守护, but plain and short-term) and 'to keep/abide by' (rules, promises, secrets). For 'comply with rules', 遵守 is the more standard set phrase; 守 by itself is shorter and more literary.
verb
to guardto defendto keep watchto abide byto observe (rules, law, discipline)to keepto maintain (a secret, a promise)
Examples
- 守。Shì bīng men rì yè shǒu zhe biān jìng.The soldiers guard the border day and night.
- 。Měi gè rén dōu yīng dāng zūn shǒu fǎ lǜ.Everyone should abide by the law.
- 守。Wǒ men yí dìng yào shǒu zhù zhè ge mì mì.We must keep this secret.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo 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.
Appears in
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