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.
見張りを立てる。
To post a guard.
子どもたちが遊ぶ間、見張り役をしていた。
I was on lookout duty while the children played.
倉庫の前に見張りが二人配置されていた。
Two guards were stationed in front of the warehouse.
Derived from the verb 見張る (to keep watch). Can refer to either the act of watching or the person doing the watching.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 見張りを立てる: to post a lookout
- 見張り役: the role of lookout, the person on watch
- 見張り台: watchtower, observation platform
- 見張り番: sentry, watchman
- 見張りをする: 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:
- 監視: surveillance, monitoring (formal, systematic)
- 警備: security, guard duty (professional)
- 番人: guard, watchman (person)