守り
Meanings
1
babysitting; looking after a child; babysitter
Used for taking care of a baby or child, especially in phrases like 赤ん坊の守りをする. The compound 子守り is often the more familiar everyday word.
I spent the whole day looking after my little sister.
I asked my grandmother to babysit the baby.
2
guarding; keeping watch; keeper; caretaker
Refers to watching over, keeping, or caring for something, and to the person who does so. In modern Japanese this is often seen as -守 in compounds such as 墓守 or 灯台守 rather than as a free-standing noun.
The grave keeper cleans the cemetery every morning.
The lighthouse keeper on the cape checked the light at night.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉の守りをするto look after/babysit someone
She babysits the baby.
- 〈場所〉の守りをするto keep watch over/tend a place
He tends and watches over the grave.