1.
house-sitting; looking after the house while others are away
Staying at home to watch over the house or office while others are out. Also refers to the person who stays behind. Composed of 留守 (absence from home) + 番 (watch/guard).
今日は留守番をする。
I'm house-sitting today.
子供に留守番をさせるのは心配だ。
I'm worried about leaving the children home alone.
家族が旅行に行っている間、犬と一緒に留守番している。
While my family is on vacation, I'm staying home with the dog.
USAGE:
留守番する means to stay home and look after things while others are away. When used about children, it often implies they are home alone (子供だけで留守番する).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 留守番をする (to house-sit)
- 留守番電話 (answering machine — lit. 'absence-watching phone')
- お留守番 (house-sitting — polite/cute form, often used with children)
- 留守番を頼む (to ask someone to watch the house)
SIMILAR WORDS:
留守 means being away from home, while 留守番 is the act of staying behind to watch over things during that absence.