<p>Yes, but 照看(kan4) is the only case that I can think of.</p>
<p>看(kan1) should be used in 看护, 看管, 看守, 看门, 看家, etc.</p>
<p>看 with these two tones are usually used in different words, so even with the wrong tone, people can still understand. But for example in 看好, they result in different meaning.</p>
<ul>
<li>看(kan1)好: To keep an eye on.
<ul>
<li>Example: 这名玩家曾经作弊。这场比赛我看好他。This player was a cheater. In this game I'll keep an eye on him (to make sure he doesn't cheat again).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>看(kan4)好: To think highly of.
<ul>
<li>Example: 这名玩家曾经夺冠。这场比赛我看好他。This player was a champion. In this game I think highly of him (I guess he'll win again).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-20T17:23:30.680Z
It is interesting that there are words in which 看 would be pronounced with first tone, and suggests that the existence of kan1 to mean "to look after" actually exists. But if I were to say: 他不工作，每天呆在家看(kan4)孩子, would it be incorrect? Would people not understand that I mean "look after" rather than "look at"? It is hard for me to imagine 看孩子 being pronounced kan1.
Buddy L
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-21T02:15:36.440Z
@BuddyL 看(kan4) in this sentence sounds weird, but I can understand. I also asked another native speaker, and we have the same feeling -- "Why 看(kan4)? You mean 看(kan1)孩子, right?" Let me give another example: 离婚之后，她不愿让他来家里看(kan4)孩子。After the divorce, she doesn't want him to come home and see their kid. In this context, 看(kan4)孩子 is correct.
kyc
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-19T10:03:21.997Z
2022-04-19T10:03:21.997Z
kyc
<p>看 is a 多音字. With fourth tone it has many different and very common meanings. With first tone it is defined as &quot;to look after&quot;, &quot;to take care of&quot;, &quot;to watch&quot;, and &quot;to guard&quot;. I have always used it in the fourth tone to mean those things, however, and I am not sure if this is a generational thing or if I am just wrong. Any opinions would be appreciated!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-19T09:10:51.010Z
This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who is a native Chinese speaker from Shenyang. I mentioned the word “当时” (which has two readings due to 多音字) and my friend said that she always says it in one single way for both meanings - but I'm not sure now if she said she says it as dàngshí or as dāngshí! // For 当时 and for your question about 看, I guess it could well be a case of the difference between prescriptive language (as in dictionaries saying how you should speak) versus descriptive language (as in describing how people actually speak).
goPlayerJuggler
<usage><pronunciation>
Can kan4 be used to mean "to look after"? Or must it be first tone?
# Can kan4 be used to mean "to look after"? Or must it be first tone?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-04-18)

看 is a 多音字. With fourth tone it has many different and very common meanings. With first tone it is defined as "to look after", "to take care of", "to watch", and "to guard". I have always used it in the fourth tone to mean those things, however, and I am not sure if this is a generational thing or if I am just wrong. Any opinions would be appreciated!

**Tags:** usage, pronunciation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who is a native Chinese speaker from Shenyang. I mentioned the word “当时” (which has two readings due to 多音字) and my friend said that she always says it in one single way for both meanings - but I'm not sure now if she said she says it as dàngshí or as dāngshí! // For 当时 and for your question about 看, I guess it could well be a case of the difference between prescriptive language (as in dictionaries saying how you should speak) versus descriptive language (as in describing how people actually speak).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-04-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Yes, but 照看(kan4) is the only case that I can think of.

看(kan1) should be used in 看护, 看管, 看守, 看门, 看家, etc.

看 with these two tones are usually used in different words, so even with the wrong tone, people can still understand. But for example in 看好, they result in different meaning.

* 看(kan1)好: To keep an eye on.
  + Example: 这名玩家曾经作弊。这场比赛我看好他。This player was a cheater. In this game I'll keep an eye on him (to make sure he doesn't cheat again).
* 看(kan4)好: To think highly of.
  + Example: 这名玩家曾经夺冠。这场比赛我看好他。This player was a champion. In this game I think highly of him (I guess he'll win again).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It is interesting that there are words in which 看 would be pronounced with first tone, and suggests that the existence of kan1 to mean "to look after" actually exists. But if I were to say: 他不工作，每天呆在家看(kan4)孩子, would it be incorrect? Would people not understand that I mean "look after" rather than "look at"? It is hard for me to imagine 看孩子 being pronounced kan1.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 看(kan4) in this sentence sounds weird, but I can understand. I also asked another native speaker, and we have the same feeling -- "Why 看(kan4)? You mean 看(kan1)孩子, right?" Let me give another example: 离婚之后，她不愿让他来家里看(kan4)孩子。After the divorce, she doesn't want him to come home and see their kid. In this context, 看(kan4)孩子 is correct.  

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