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
守身如玉
shǒu shēn rú yù
to keep oneself pure
退守
tuì shǒu
to retreat and defend
弃守
qì shǒu
to give up defending
守寡
shǒu guǎ
to live as widow
死守
sǐ shǒu
to defend one's property to the death
守望相助
shǒu wàng xiāng zhù
to keep watch and defend one another (idiom, from Mencius); to join forces to defend against external aggressors
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