Definition
望风 means 'to keep watch' or 'to be on the lookout', typically as an accomplice in an illicit activity. It is a separable verb (离合词): the verb 望 and the object 风 can be separated by aspect markers, measure words, or time expressions — for example, 望了半个小时风 ('kept watch for half an hour'), or 望过一次风 ('stood watch once'). The 风 here originally referred to 'wind' as a signal, but the modern meaning is fixed as 'watch for danger or unwelcome arrivals'.
v.o.
to keep watchto be on the lookout (often as an accomplice)
Examples
- ，。Wàng fēng de rén kàn dào jǐngchá lái le, jiù fāchū le xìnhào.The lookout saw the police coming and gave a signal.
- ，。Tāmen zài wàimiàn wàng le yí gè xiǎoshí de fēng, quèdìng ānquán hòu cái jìnqù.They kept watch outside for an hour, only entering after confirming it was safe.
- ，。Nǐ bāng wǒ zài ménkǒu wàng fēng, yǒu qíngkuàng mǎshàng jiào wǒ.You help me keep watch at the door, and call me immediately if anything happens.
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