守
shǒu
to guard
to defend; to keep watch; to abide by the law; to observe (rules or ritual); nearby; adjoining
roof (宀) + hand (寸) = guard and hold your post
A hand (寸 originally depicted a wrist with a pulse point, representing a measured hand) stationed under a roof suggests someone posted at a dwelling to watch over it. The image is of a guard holding their position.
我们要守规则，不能随便乱来。
wǒ men yào shǒu guī zé, bù néng suí biàn luàn lái。
We must abide by the rules and cannot just do as we please.
他每天晚上都守在病人身边，一刻也不离开。
tā měi tiān wǎn shang dōu shǒu zài bìng rén shēn biān, yī kè yě bù lí kāi。
He keeps watch by the patient's side every night, not leaving for even a moment.
Words with 守
太守
tài shǒu
governor of a province
遵守
zūn shǒu
to comply with; to abide by; to respect (an agreement)
郡守
jùn shǒu
senior provincial official in imperial China
镇守
zhèn shǒu
(of troops stationed in a strategic area) to defend
长相厮守
cháng xiāng sī shǒu
(of a couple) to stay together for life
闭关自守
bì guān zì shǒu
close the country to international intercourse
防守
fáng shǒu
to defend
防守者
fáng shǒu zhě
defender
驻守
zhù shǒu
(man a post and) defend
魂不守舍
hún bù shǒu shè
to be preoccupied (idiom)
保守
bǎo shǒu
conservative
保守主义
bǎo shǒu zhǔ yì
conservatism