look after

look after — phrasal verb

1. to keep someone or something safe, healthy, or in good condition by giving them

1.片語動詞及物B1
釋義

to keep someone or something safe, healthy, or in good condition by giving them the attention and care they need.

例句

Lien looks after her younger brother while their parents work late at the hospital.

collocation: look after + family member

The nurses at the care home look after my grandmother with great patience.

collocation: look after + [person] with [quality]

同義詞
  • take care of

    the most direct synonym, equally common in everyday speech

  • care for

    slightly more formal, often carries a sense of affection or tenderness

  • watch over

    emphasises protection and monitoring rather than hands-on care

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to give proper care or attention

文法句型

look after + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always transitive — 'look after' must be followed by an object. The phrasal verb is inseparable: the object comes after 'after', not between 'look' and 'after'. Common in both spoken and written English.

常見錯誤

Can you look my cat after while I am away?
Can you look after my cat while I am away?
💡'look after' is an inseparable phrasal verb; the object must go after 'after'.