关照

• Pinyin: guān zhào
• Hanzi breakdown: 关 = to care; to be concerned; crucial connection; 照 = 昭 (bright; clear) + 灬 (fire) — to illuminate or shine light on; extended to attending to or notifying someone

Meaning

To look after; to take care of; to attend to someone's needs. Also means to notify or inform someone as a courtesy or instruction.

关照 is a formal or polite expression of attentive care. In professional contexts, a superior may 关照 a colleague to look after a new member of staff. Expressing gratitude for someone's care uses 感谢您的关照. The phrase 多多关照 (please look after me well / I'm in your care) is used when starting a new job or relationship to invite goodwill.

Examples

1. 新员工初来乍到，请各位同事多多关照，帮助她尽快融入团队氛围。 Our new colleague just joined—please look out for her and help her settle into the team as soon as possible.
2. 老领导离任前，特意关照下属，嘱咐大家继续保持团结协作的精神。 Before stepping down, the former leader specifically reminded his staff, urging everyone to keep up the spirit of unity and cooperation.
3. 他住院期间，同事们轮流前来探视，悉心关照他的日常起居和饮食。 While he was in the hospital, his coworkers visited in shifts and carefully took care of his daily needs and meals.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, social, hospitality

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 初来乍到，还请各位前辈和同仁多多关照，不吝赐教。(I'm new here and sincerely hope for your guidance and support.)
• 经理特别关照前台，要优先接待这位从外地专程赶来的重要客户。(The manager specifically instructed the receptionist to prioritise receiving this important client who had come specially from out of town.)

Don't Say

• 用'关照'来指代'照片'，因为两个词都含有'照' — 关照 (guān zhào) means to look after or notify; it is not a synonym for 照片 (photo) despite sharing the character 照

Origin & History

关 (to be concerned about; to care) + 照 (to illuminate; to attend to; to notify). Together: to shine attentive care upon someone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal