見張(みは)り

みはり
noun
lookout; watch; guard
action
1. lookout; watch; guard; sentry
The act of keeping watch over something, or the person assigned to keep watch. Used in both literal security contexts and more casual situations.
見張(みは)りを立(た)てる。
To post a guard.
子(こ)どもたちが遊(あそ)ぶ間(あいだ)、見張(みは)り役(やく)をしていた。
I was on lookout duty while the children played.
倉庫(そうこ)の前(まえ)に見張(みは)りが二人(ふたり)配置(はいち)されていた。
Two guards were stationed in front of the warehouse.

Derived from the verb 見張(みは)る (to keep watch). Can refer to either the act of watching or the person doing the watching.

Common collocations

  • 見張(みは)りを立(た)てる: to post a lookout
  • 見張(みは)り役(やく): the role of lookout, the person on watch
  • 見張(みは)り台(だい): watchtower, observation platform
  • 見張(みは)り番(ばん): sentry, watchman
  • 見張(みは)りをする: to keep watch

Usage

Appears in both serious contexts (military, security, crime stories) and everyday situations (watching children, keeping an eye on something cooking). In casual use, it often implies monitoring informally rather than formal guard duty.

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 監視(かんし) (surveillance (formal))
Compare: 警備(けいび) (security, guard duty)
Compare: 番兵 (sentry)
general
Added 2026.3.22 13:41 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18525_mihari