看守|かんしゅkanshu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounprison guard; warder; jailer; gaoler
   囚人しゅうじんは連行れんこうしていた看守かんしゅの手てを振り切ふりきって脱走だっそうした。↗

   The prisoner broke away from the guards who were holding him.

• Synonym番人ばんにんNeutralNeutral. A general term for someone who watches over a place, such as a doorkeeper or mountain watchman; 「看守」 mainly means a person who guards prisoners.
• Synonym警衛けいえいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Refers to vigilance, guarding, patrolling and escorting, mostly of facilities or VIPs; 「看守」 mainly means a prison guard or the act of guarding.
• Synonym牢番ろうばんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Old term for someone who cares for and guards prisoners in a jail, essentially synonymous with 「看守」; today say 「看守」 or 「刑務官」.
• Related見張りみはりNeutralNeutral. Means keeping watch or surveillance, and also the person on watch, in any setting; 「看守」 is mainly for guarding prisoners.
• Related衛兵えいへいWrittenWritten/formal prose. A soldier guarding a camp, palace or the like, on the watch for enemy attack and protecting key sites; 「看守」 guards prisoners to prevent escape.
• Related警戒けいかいNeutralNeutral. Means staying vigilant against danger, typically disasters or crime; 「看守」 focuses on closely watching and guarding specific people.
• Related警備けいびNeutralNeutral. Patrolling and guarding to prevent trouble, used for venues, facilities, borders and the like; 「看守」 mainly means guarding prisoners.
• Related警護けいごNeutralNeutral. Guarding to keep emergencies from happening; the object can be VIPs, borders or facilities; 「看守」 is about guarding prisoners and preventing escape.
• Related監視かんしNeutralNeutral. Watching movements closely, applicable to any person or place and very versatile; 「看守」 mainly means a prison guard or the guarding itself.
• Related守衛しゅえいNeutralNeutral. A guard posted at the entrance of a company or government office; 「看守」 mainly means someone who guards prisoners in a prison or similar.
• Related張り番はりばんNeutralNeutral. Means keeping watch at a place, staying alert for anything unusual, with no restriction on location; 「看守」 is mainly for guarding prisoners.
• Related立ち番たちばんNeutralNeutral. Means standing guard, e.g. at an entrance, stressing that one stands while on duty; 「看守」 mainly means a prison guard or the guarding itself.
• Related歩哨ほしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Military term for a sentry standing watch against enemy attack; 「看守」 guards prisoners in a jail.
• Related番兵ばんぺいWrittenWritten/formal prose. An old-fashioned word for a soldier on guard duty; in computing, also a sentinel value marking the end of data. Different object from 「看守」.
• Related番卒ばんそつWrittenWritten/formal prose, old-fashioned and rarely used today: a soldier guarding a building or place in shifts or at night; unlike 「看守」, which is about guarding prisoners.
• Related衛士えじWrittenWritten/formal prose. Historical term for soldiers who guarded palace gates or escorted nobles under the ritsuryō system; unrelated to 「看守」, the prison guard.
• Related警固けいごWrittenWritten/formal prose and rarely used today: keeping strict guard against emergencies; 「看守」 is mainly for guarding prisoners.
• Antonym囚人しゅうじんNeutralNeutral antonym: an imprisoned person, the one 「看守」 guards; the two stand as guard and guarded.
• Antonym受刑者じゅけいしゃFormalFormal legal term for a person serving a sentence, the one 「看守」 guards; more formal than 「囚人」.

Use 「看守」 for someone who guards prisoners; the official job title is 「刑務官」. For standing watch or guarding in general, 「見張り」 is the usual choice; use 「守衛」 for a door guard, 「衛兵」 for a military sentry, and 「監視」 for closely watching movements.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 刑務所けいむしょなどで囚人しゅうじんの監督かんとくや警備けいびを行おこなう役人やくにん。
2. 見守みまもること。