留守番

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 留守番, read るすばん, means staying behind to watch a house.
• Basic usage: It can describe a person or animal remaining at home.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Staying together
  • In 弟と留守番をした, と marks the brother who stayed home too.
• Time
  • 留守番の間 means while watching the house.