Word
留守番
Meaning in Englishcare-taking, caretaker, house-watching
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
留守番 means staying at home to supervise the house and its inhabitants while others are away; it describes the role or act of remaining at home to look after the residence or pets.
Main meanings
- To stay at home to supervise a residence and any pets or belongings during an absence.
- Refers to the person who performs that duty, such as a family member or a hired house-sitter.
- Describes the duty as a temporary or security-related obligation rather than a permanent profession.
How to use it
Used as a noun that can take をする to express performing the duty; common in family contexts with children or pets; casual speech uses 留守番をする or 留守番になる; in writing, it can appear in explanations of household routines or security arrangements.
Variants and close terms
- 見守り (mimamori) — watching over
- 不在 (fuzai) — absence, away
- 在宅 (zaitaku) — at home
Composition
- 留 = stay, remain; 守 = guard, protect; 番 = watch, turn; When combined, the sequence conveys the act of staying behind to monitor a residence in someone’s absence.
Etymology
留守 (rusu) means absence or being away; 番 (ban) means watch or turn; when combined, 留守番 denotes a person who stays behind to guard the home in someone else’s absence; the reading rusuban reflects a standard kun-readings pairing.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N4
留守
rusu
absence, not at home
N1
守備
shubi
defense
N1
守衛
shuei
security guard, doorkeeper
N1
保守
hoshu
conservative, maintaining
N2
～番目
～bamme
~th
N2
書留
kakitome
registered mail
N2
当番
touban
being on duty
N2
留まる
todomaru
to be fixed; to abide, to stay (in the one place)
N2
番地
banchi
house number, address