Both translations of "oppassen" are very common.
1. to be careful, to look/watch out, to mind [verb] [paste op, opgepast] [‘op-pa-sun’]
Examples:
– "Pas op het afstapje!"
("Mind the step!")
– "Je moet oppassen dat je niet met je voet tussen de spaken komt!"
(<common warning to kids sitting on the back of mom’s bicycle:> "You have to watch out that your foot doesn’t end up between the spokes!" Literally: "…that you do not come with your foot between the spokes.")
– "Pas op met oversteken, het kan druk zijn!"
("Watch out when crossing (the street), it might be crowded!")
– "Pas nou toch op!"
("Be careful now!")
– "Pas erop dat je alle ramen sluit voordat je weggaat."
("Mind to close all windows before you leave.")
– "Oppassen!"
("Be careful! / Watch out!")
– "Pas op!"
("Be careful! / Watch out!")
Related words:
– "Uitkijken": to watch out.
– "Opletten": to pay attention.
– "Voorzichtig": careful.
– "Roekeloos": reckless.
2. to take care of, to baby-sit [verb] [paste op, opgepast] [‘op-pa-sun’]
Examples:
– "Marc moet vandaag oppassen op zijn achternichtje."
("Today Marc has to baby-sit his second cousin.")
– "Nou ik ga! Pas goed op je zusje hè!"
("I’m off now! Take good care of your little sister o.k.?")
– "We gaan drie weken op vakantie, maar ik heb de buren gevraagd op het huis te passen."
("We are going on holiday for three weeks, but I have asked the neighbours to watch the house.")
Related words:
– "Babysitten": to baby-sit.
– "Babysitter": baby sitter. Both verb and noun are common.
Example:
– "We gaan vanavond naar de schouwburg. Gelukkig hebben we een babysitter kunnen vinden!"
("Tonight we are going to the theatre. Luckily we have been able to find a baby sitter!")
Heel Goed! I have learned a lot with you, guys! Thanks!