keep company; accompany
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to keep company; to accompany; to be a companion
Often used when someone needs company due to illness, loneliness, or age. Can take the suffix -r (儿) in spoken Mandarin (作伴儿).
Mǔ母
qīn亲
shēng生
bìng病
，
xū需
yào要
yǒu有
gè个
rén人
zuò作
bàn伴
。
Mother is sick and needs someone to keep her company.
Tā他
yī一
gè个
rén人
zhù住
，
hěn很
jì寂
mò寞
，
xiǎng想
zhǎo找
gè个
péng朋
yǒu友
zuò作
bàn伴
。
He lives alone and is very lonely; he wants to find a friend to keep him company.
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Wǎn晚
shang上
zǒu走
lù路
hài害
pà怕
，
wǒ我
zhǎo找
rén人
zuò作
bàn伴
yī一
qǐ起
zǒu走
。
I'm scared to walk at night, so I'll find someone to go with me.
Yé爷
ye爷
nǎi奶
nai奶
nián年
jì纪
dà大
le了
，
xū需
yào要
yǒu有
rén人
zuò作
bàn伴
zhào照
gù顾
。
Grandpa and Grandma are getting old and need someone to stay with them and take care of them.