stay behind to guard the capital; leave a garrison behind
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
(of an emperor) to leave a minister behind to guard the capital
formalRefers to the historical practice in imperial China where the emperor would appoint a trusted minister or the crown prince to guard the capital while the emperor traveled or led military campaigns. Also used for ministers guarding auxiliary capitals (陪都).
The emperor personally led the expedition, ordering the crown prince to stay behind and guard the capital.
In the Tang Dynasty, Taiyuan was designated as the Northern Capital, where a留守 official was appointed.
verb
(of troops, institutions, etc.) to leave a small group behind to guard the original station or maintain liaison
neutralModern usage extends to military units, government offices, or organizations leaving a skeleton crew to maintain operations, handle correspondence, or guard property. The term is also used attributively in compounds like 留守儿童 (left-behind children) or 留守处 (rear office).
After the troops departed, the company commander led a squad to stay behind as garrison.
The office has moved, leaving only a few people here to hold the fort.
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Please call the rear office to get in touch.
Most of the village consists of left-behind children and elderly people.