Japanese word

留守番

Pronunciation

Romajirusuban

母が買い物の間、私は留守番をします。haha ga ka i mono no aida watashi wa ru su ban o shi ma su

I will look after the house while my mother shops.

今日は留守番です。kyō wa ru su ban de su

I am staying home alone today.

子どもだけで留守番をするのは、まだ難しいです。ko do mo da ke de ru su ban o su ru no wa ma da muzuka shi i de su

It is still difficult for the children to stay home alone.

It centers on remaining at home during another person's absence and watching over the household.

留守居rusui: Remaining at home to manage a household while its members are away.

家の人が外出している間、その家に残って番をすること。ie no hito ga gai shutsu shi te i ru aida so no ie ni noko tte ban o su ru ko to

It combines 留守 (rusu, "absence") and 番 (ban, "watch or duty"), so the compound means keeping watch during someone's absence.

The English term house-sitting often suggests caring for someone else's home, whereas 留守番 (rusuban) commonly refers to staying home while family members are out.