子守

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Spelling: 子守. Reading: こもり. Core meaning: babysitting; childcare.
• Basic usage: Representative examples: 親戚が用事を済ませる間、私が幼い子の子守をした / 昔の村では年上の子が子守を任されることもあった.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Care activity and caregiver
  • 子守をする describes the act of caring for a child. The noun can also refer to the person assigned that work, but both examples here focus on the childcare activity.