====== kānguǎn: 看管 - To Guard, Watch Over, Supervise ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** kanguan, 看管, to guard in Chinese, to look after in Chinese, watch over, supervise, take care of, HSK 5, Chinese for prison guard, Chinese vocabulary, learn Chinese, unattended luggage.
  * **Summary:** Learn the essential HSK 5 Chinese verb **看管 (kānguǎn)**, which means "to guard," "to watch over," or "to supervise." This guide explains how **看管 (kānguǎn)** is used for everything from watching luggage at an airport and guarding a warehouse to supervising children and prisoners. Discover the crucial pronunciation difference in the character **看 (kān)** and understand how **看管 (kānguǎn)** differs from similar words like **照顾 (zhàogù)**, making your Chinese more precise and natural.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kānguǎn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To watch over and be in charge of a person, place, or thing, typically for security or safety.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **看管 (kānguǎn)** is about active supervision. Think of it as the job of a security guard, a prison warden, or a babysitter whose main task is to prevent problems. It combines "watching over" (看, kān) with "managing/controlling" (管, guǎn). The feeling is one of responsibility for security and order, rather than emotional care or nurturing.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **看 (kān):** In this word, **看** is pronounced **kān** (1st tone), which means "to look after" or "to guard." This is a critical distinction from its more common pronunciation, **kàn** (4th tone), which means "to see" or "to look at." For example, **看门 (kānmén)** means "to guard a door."
  * **管 (guǎn):** This character means "to manage," "to control," or "to be in charge of." It implies a level of authority and responsibility over something.
When combined, **看管 (kānguǎn)** literally means "to watch over and manage," creating a clear and strong verb for the act of supervision and guardianship.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While not a deeply philosophical term, **看管 (kānguǎn)** reflects a practical aspect of Chinese culture: the clear delegation of responsibility. When someone is asked to **看管** something, it establishes a formal or informal contract of duty. The person is now officially in charge of the safety and security of that item, place, or person.
A useful comparison is with the English phrase "to look after."
  *   **To look after** can be very broad. You can "look after" a sick parent (implying nurturing care), "look after" a business (implying management), or "look after" a bag (implying temporary watchfulness).
  *   **看管 (kānguǎn)** is more specific. It almost always carries a nuance of security or prevention. You would use **照顾 (zhàogù)** to describe the nurturing care for a sick parent. You would use **管理 (guǎnlǐ)** to describe managing a business. You use **看管 (kānguǎn)** when your primary role is to be a guardian—to make sure nothing bad happens.
This distinction highlights a preference in Chinese for using more precise verbs to define the nature of the responsibility being undertaken.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**看管 (kānguǎn)** is a common and practical verb used in various everyday situations.
  *   **Guarding Property and Places (Neutral):** This is the most common usage. It's used for jobs that involve security or for temporarily watching over items.
  *   Guarding a warehouse (仓库), a construction site (工地), or a building (大楼).
  *   Watching someone's luggage (行李) or bag (包) for a moment.
  *   **Supervising People (Formal/Serious):** In law enforcement or institutional contexts, it means to guard or supervise people to prevent them from escaping or causing trouble.
  *   Guarding prisoners (犯人) or suspects (嫌疑人).
  *   **Watching Children/Pets (Informal):** While **照顾 (zhàogù)** is more common for overall childcare, **看管 (kānguǎn)** is often used for short-term, supervisory watchfulness.
  *   "Can you watch the kids for five minutes while I take this call?" Here, the focus is on safety, not on feeding or playing with them.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
  * 他白天的工作是**看管**这个仓库。
  * Pinyin: Tā báitiān de gōngzuò shì **kānguǎn** zhège cāngkù.
  * English: His daytime job is to guard this warehouse.
  * Analysis: A classic, neutral use of **看管** for a job involving security of a place.
  * **Example 2:**
  * 你能帮我**看管**一下行李吗？我马上回来。
  * Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ **kānguǎn** yíxià xíngli ma? Wǒ mǎshàng huílái.
  * English: Can you help me watch my luggage for a moment? I'll be right back.
  * Analysis: A very common and practical request in a travel context. The "一下 (yíxià)" softens the tone and indicates a brief action.
  * **Example 3:**
  * 警察二十四小时**看管**着那名重要的证人。
  * Pinyin: Jǐngchá èrshísì xiǎoshí **kānguǎn** zhe nà míng zhòngyào de zhèngrén.
  * English: The police are guarding that important witness 24 hours a day.
  * Analysis: Here, **看管** takes on a serious, formal tone related to law enforcement and protection.
  * **Example 4:**
  * 把孩子放在公园里，一定要好好**看管**，别让他乱跑。
  * Pinyin: Bǎ háizi fàng zài gōngyuán lǐ, yídìng yào hǎohǎo **kānguǎn**, bié ràng tā luàn pǎo.
  * English: When the kids are in the park, you must watch them carefully and not let them run around randomly.
  * Analysis: This shows the informal use for supervising children, with a focus on safety.
  * **Example 5:**
  * 这片区域由私人保安公司负责**看管**。
  * Pinyin: Zhè piàn qūyù yóu sīrén bǎo'ān gōngsī fùzé **kānguǎn**.
  * English: This area is under the charge of a private security company.
  * Analysis: Demonstrates a formal usage related to security services and responsibility.
  * **Example 6:**
  * 这些贵重设备必须由专人**看管**。
  * Pinyin: Zhèxiē guìzhòng shèbèi bìxū yóu zhuānrén **kānguǎn**.
  * English: This valuable equipment must be looked after by designated personnel.
  * Analysis: Highlights the sense of responsibility for valuable items.
  * **Example 7:**
  * 农夫用稻草人来**看管**他的田地，防止鸟儿偷吃庄稼。
  * Pinyin: Nóngfū yòng dàocǎorén lái **kānguǎn** tā de tiándì, fángzhǐ niǎo'er tōuchī zhuāngjia.
  * English: The farmer uses a scarecrow to watch over his fields to prevent birds from stealing the crops.
  * Analysis: A creative example showing that the "guard" doesn't have to be a person.
  * **Example 8:**
  * 他的职责之一就是**看管**在押的嫌疑人。
  * Pinyin: Tā de zhízé zhī yī jiùshì **kānguǎn** zàiyā de xiányírén.
  * English: One of his duties is to guard the suspects in custody.
  * Analysis: A formal sentence construction (职责之一就是... "one of the duties is...") emphasizing the law enforcement context.
  * **Example 9:**
  * 邻居度假去了，委托我**看管**他家的猫。
  * Pinyin: Línjū dùjià qù le, wěituō wǒ **kānguǎn** tā jiā de māo.
  * English: My neighbor went on vacation and entrusted me with looking after his cat.
  * Analysis: A good example of using **看管** for pets. It implies ensuring the pet is safe, fed, and doesn't run away.
  * **Example 10:**
  * 机场广播提醒旅客，请勿将行李置于无人**看管**的状态。
  * Pinyin: Jīchǎng guǎngbō tíxǐng lǚkè, qǐng wù jiāng xíngli zhìyú wú rén **kānguǎn** de zhuàngtài.
  * English: The airport announcement reminds passengers not to leave their luggage unattended.
  * Analysis: This introduces the extremely useful phrase **无人看管 (wú rén kānguǎn)**, meaning "unattended" or "unguarded."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  *   **Mistake 1: Pronunciation.** The single biggest mistake is pronouncing 看 as **kàn** (4th tone) in this word. It MUST be **kān** (1st tone).
    *   **Incorrect:** `tā kànguǎn cāngkù.`
    *   **Correct:** `tā kānguǎn cāngkù.` (He guards the warehouse.)
  *   **Mistake 2: Confusing `看管 (kānguǎn)` with `照顾 (zhàogù)`.** This is a crucial distinction in meaning.
    *   **`看管 (kānguǎn)`** is for supervision and security. It's about preventing negative things from happening. It's often temporary.
    *   **`照顾 (zhàogù)`** is for nurturing and care. It's about providing for someone's needs (health, comfort, food). It's often long-term and has an emotional component.
    *   **Example:** You **看管 (kānguǎn)** a stranger's bag. You **照顾 (zhàogù)** your sick grandmother.
    *   **Incorrect:** `请帮我照顾一下我的包。` (While understandable, it sounds a bit strange, as if your bag needs emotional support.)
    *   **Correct:** `请帮我看管一下我的包。` (Please watch my bag for me.)
  *   **Mistake 3: Confusing `看管 (kānguǎn)` with `管理 (guǎnlǐ)`.**
    *   **`看管 (kānguǎn)`** is about physically watching over something specific.
    *   **`管理 (guǎnlǐ)`** is about administering or managing a system, project, or company. It's more abstract and high-level.
    *   **Example:** A security guard **看管 (kānguǎn)** a building. A CEO **管理 (guǎnlǐ)** a company.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[照顾]] (zhàogù) - To take care of; to look after. A near synonym but with a much stronger emphasis on nurturing, care, and meeting needs.
  *   [[看守]] (kānshǒu) - To guard; to watch over. Very similar to **看管**, but often implies a more static, official, and serious duty, like guarding a prison or a military post.
  *   [[保护]] (bǎohù) - To protect. This is a broader term. You **保护** someone from harm or **保护** the environment. **看管** is one method of **保护**.
  *   [[监管]] (jiānguǎn) - To supervise; to regulate. This is a much more formal and often legal/governmental term, used for things like financial regulation or market supervision.
  *   [[管理]] (guǎnlǐ) - To manage; to administer. Refers to the administration of a company, a team, or a project, not physical guarding.
  *   [[照看]] (zhàokàn) - To look after; to keep an eye on. Very close to the informal use of **看管** for children/pets, perhaps with a slightly warmer, more caring feel.
  *   [[无人看管]] (wú rén kānguǎn) - Unattended; unguarded. A very common and useful set phrase.