kānhù: 看护 - To Look After, To Nurse, Caregiver

• Keywords: kanhu, 看护, to look after, to nurse, to care for, caregiver, Chinese for caregiver, Chinese for nurse, taking care of sick, tending to elderly, 照顾 vs 看护, hushi, zhaogu
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 看护 (kānhù), which means “to look after,” “to nurse,” or “caregiver.” This comprehensive guide explores its use as both a verb and a noun, its cultural significance in caring for the sick and elderly in China, and how it differs from similar words like 照顾 (zhàogù) and 护士 (hùshi). Perfect for students wanting to understand the nuances of care and responsibility in Chinese culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kān hù
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To watch over and care for someone who is sick, young, or elderly; a caregiver.
• In a Nutshell: 看护 (kānhù) is all about protective vigilance. It’s not just general “taking care of” someone; it’s the specific, focused act of watching over a person who is vulnerable and needs protection or assistance. Think of a night watchman for a person's health—attentive, responsible, and guarding them from harm or discomfort.

• 看 (kān): While you likely learned this character as `kàn` (to see, to look at), here it is pronounced `kān`. In this context, `kān` means “to look after,” “to tend to,” or “to guard.” Think of a gatekeeper who watches over something important.
• 护 (hù): This character means “to protect” or “to guard.” It's the same character found in `护士 (hùshi - nurse)` and `保护 (bǎohù - to protect)`.
• The two characters combine to mean “to watch over and protect.” This combination emphasizes a level of responsibility and constant attention required for someone who cannot fully care for themselves.

看护 (kānhù) is deeply tied to the Chinese cultural value of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - filial piety. Traditionally, the responsibility of caring for aging parents falls squarely on their children. The act of a son or daughter personally performing 看护 for a sick parent is seen as a fundamental expression of respect and love. In Western cultures, placing an elderly parent in a professional nursing home is often seen as a practical choice made for their well-being. In China, while this is becoming more common due to modern life pressures, there can still be a lingering social stigma. The ideal remains for family to provide care. This creates a nuanced situation. When a family hires a professional 看护 (kānhù), often called a 护工 (hùgōng), it's frequently to assist the family members who are also present, rather than to completely replace them. The hired caregiver might handle the more physically demanding tasks, allowing the son or daughter to provide emotional support and fulfill their filial duty of being present. The term, therefore, exists in this space between familial duty and modern necessity.

看护 (kānhù) is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it always implies a serious level of responsibility.

• As a Verb: It describes the action of looking after someone vulnerable.
  • `他辞掉工作，回家专心看护生病的母亲。` (He quit his job to go home and focus on looking after his sick mother.)
• As a Noun: It refers to the person doing the job, the “caregiver.” This can be a family member or a hired professional.
  • `我们为爷爷请了一位夜间看护。` (We hired a night-time caregiver for grandpa.)

The term is most common in situations involving illness, post-surgery recovery, the elderly, or very young children who require constant supervision.

• Example 1:
  • 医生说病人出院后还需要有人看护一段时间。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō bìngrén chūyuàn hòu hái xūyào yǒurén kānhù yīduàn shíjiān.
  • English: The doctor said that after the patient is discharged, they will still need someone to look after them for a period of time.
  • Analysis: This is a classic use of 看护 as a verb, highlighting the need for supervised care during a recovery period.
• Example 2:
  • 她在医院找了一份看护的工作，专门照顾老人。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài yīyuàn zhǎole yī fèn kānhù de gōngzuò, zhuānmén zhàogù lǎorén.
  • English: She found a job as a caregiver at the hospital, specializing in taking care of the elderly.
  • Analysis: Here, 看护 is used as a noun to describe a job title or role. Note how it's used alongside `照顾 (zhàogù)`, with 看护 being the job and `照顾` being the general action.
• Example 3:
  • 孩子发高烧，我必须整夜看护着他。
  • Pinyin: Háizi fā gāoshāo, wǒ bìxū zhěngyè kānhù zhe tā.
  • English: My child has a high fever, so I have to watch over him all night.
  • Analysis: The particle `着 (zhe)` emphasizes the continuous, ongoing state of the action. It paints a picture of a parent vigilantly staying by their child's side.
• Example 4:
  • 这位看护非常专业，把奶奶照顾得很好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi kānhù fēicháng zhuānyè, bǎ nǎinai zhàogù de hěn hǎo.
  • English: This caregiver is very professional and takes great care of Grandma.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 看护 as a noun for a professional caregiver. The measure word for people in a profession, `位 (wèi)`, is used to show respect.
• Example 5:
  • 由于人手不足，护士们不得不看护过多的病人。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú rénshǒu bùzú, hùshimen bùdébù kānhù guòduō de bìngrén.
  • English: Due to staff shortages, the nurses have no choice but to look after too many patients.
  • Analysis: This shows that while a `护士 (hùshi)` is a specific profession, the action they perform can be described as 看护.
• Example 6:
  • 你出去吧，这里有我看护就行了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ chūqù ba, zhèlǐ yǒu wǒ kānhù jiù xíng le.
  • English: You can go, it's fine with just me here to watch over things.
  • Analysis: A common, conversational phrase used to reassure someone else that the patient/child is in good hands.
• Example 7:
  • 看护一个阿兹海默症患者需要极大的耐心。
  • Pinyin: Kānhù yīgè āzīhǎimòzhèng huànzhě xūyào jídà de nàixīn.
  • English: Caring for an Alzheimer's patient requires immense patience.
  • Analysis: Here, 看护 acts as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun), representing “the act of caring for.”
• Example 8:
  • 这只小猫刚出生，需要二十四小时的看护。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhī xiǎo māo gāng chūshēng, xūyào èrshísì xiǎoshí de kānhù.
  • English: This kitten was just born and needs 24-hour care.
  • Analysis: This shows that 看护 can extend to animals, especially when they are very young or sick and require constant attention.
• Example 9:
  • 他一边上学，一边做兼职看护来赚钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā yībiān shàngxué, yībiān zuò jiānzhí kānhù lái zhuànqián.
  • English: He studies while also working as a part-time caregiver to earn money.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 看护 as a part-time job role.
• Example 10:
  • 在他的精心看护下，病人的情况一天天好转。
  • Pinyin: Zài tā de jīngxīn kānhù xià, bìngrén de qíngkuàng yītiāntiān hǎozhuǎn.
  • English: Under his meticulous care, the patient's condition improved day by day.
  • Analysis: Here, 看护 is a noun meaning “care” or “nursing.” The adjective `精心 (jīngxīn - meticulous, attentive)` modifies it to describe the quality of the care.

• 看护 (kānhù) vs. 照顾 (zhàogù): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 照顾 (zhàogù) is broader. It means “to take care of” and can include daily chores, emotional support, and general well-being. You can `照顾` a healthy child, `照顾` a houseguest, or `照顾` a business.
  • 看护 (kānhù) is more specific and intensive. It implies watching over someone who is vulnerable—sick, disabled, very old, or very young. It focuses on safety, monitoring, and immediate needs. You 看护 a patient; you 照顾 a friend.
  • Incorrect: 我去朋友家看护他的猫。 (Unless the cat is very sick and needs medical monitoring).
  • Correct: 我去朋友家照顾他的猫。 (Meaning to feed it, play with it, etc.)
• 看护 (kānhù) vs. 护士 (hùshi):
  • A 护士 (hùshi) is a licensed medical professional with formal training. They administer medicine, perform medical procedures, and work in a clinical setting.
  • A 看护 (kānhù) is a caregiver. They may or may not have formal training. Their job is primarily non-medical: helping with bathing, eating, companionship, and monitoring the patient's condition for the nurse or doctor. In a hospital, a family might hire a 看护 to stay with the patient 24/7, while the 护士 comes in periodically to do their rounds.
• Pronunciation Pitfall: kān vs. kàn
  • Remember, for “to look after” or “to guard,” the character 看 is pronounced kān.
  • 看 (kān)守: to guard, to watch over (kānshǒu)
  • 看 (kàn)见: to see (kànjiàn)
  • Pronouncing 看护 as `kànhù` is a common beginner mistake.

• 照顾 (zhàogù) - To take care of. A much broader and more common term than `看护`.
• 护士 (hùshi) - Nurse. A licensed medical professional.
• 护理 (hùlǐ) - Nursing; to nurse. Refers to the professional field and act of nursing. `护理` is the professional skill, `看护` can be the job or action done by anyone.
• 护工 (hùgōng) - A nursing aide or orderly. This is a very common and specific term for a hired, non-medical caregiver in a hospital or home setting. It's almost a synonym for `看护` when used as a noun for a hired professional.
• 保姆 (bǎomǔ) - Nanny; housekeeper. Focuses on childcare and household duties, not typically medical or intensive care.
• 照看 (zhàokān) - To look after, to keep an eye on. Very similar to `看护` as a verb, but perhaps slightly more informal.
• 保护 (bǎohù) - To protect. A general term for protecting something or someone from any kind of harm, not specifically related to health.
• 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety. The core cultural value that often motivates the act of `看护` for one's parents.