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張り番 (はりばん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

張はり番ばん

は

り

ば

ん

Meanings

1

noun

lookout; watch; guard

Refers to a person assigned to keep watch, often in a security or surveillance context. Can also imply the act of standing guard.

夜よるの張はり番ばんに若わかい兵へい士しが立たっていた。
A young soldier stood as the night lookout.
泥どろ棒ぼうが入はいらないように、交こう代たいで張はり番ばんをした。
We took turns keeping watch so that thieves wouldn't get in.

Written forms

張はり番ばんUsage89%
Standard spelling for a person keeping watch or standing guard.
張はり番ばんUsage11%
Variant spelling; less common but still used.

Kanji

張counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread
番

turn, number in a series

Similar words

見み張はり
見張り is more common for 'lookout' or 'watchman' and can also refer to the act of watching. 張り番 is less frequent and often implies a more formal or stationed guard duty.
番ばん人にん
番人 is a general term for a guard or watchman, while 張り番 emphasizes the act of being on the lookout, often in a specific post.

Etymology

Compound of 張り (はり, continuative form of 張る 'to stretch, to stand guard') and 番 (ばん 'watch, guard'). The combination emphasizes the act of standing watch.