Meaning
守 means to guard, protect, or keep watch over something. It conveys the idea of staying at a position to protect or maintain it, whether that's a physical place, a principle, or a commitment. The character is commonly used in contexts involving defense, adherence to rules, or maintaining responsibility over something.
Usage
守 is frequently combined with other characters to form compound words related to guarding, defending, or observing rules. It appears in both concrete contexts (守门 - guard the door) and abstract ones (守法 - abide by the law). Native speakers use it in formal and informal settings, though some compounds lean more formal.
Examples
- 01我们应该遵守交通规则。.We should abide by traffic rules.
- 02他在公司门口守了一整夜。.He kept watch at the company entrance for a whole night.
Common collocations
- 守法to abide by the law
- 守门to guard the door/gate
- 守信to keep one's word
- 守护to guard, to protect
Antonyms
Origin
The character 守 combines the roof radical 宀 (mián) with 寸 (cùn, hand/measure), originally depicting a hand protecting what's under a roof - the concept of guarding one's home.