How is 眷顾 used in spoken Chinese? I've encountered 眷顾 on several occasions but I am not sure how to distinguish it from 照顾 in terms of usage. I have seen an example sentence of 上帝眷顾我们的事业, so is 眷顾 usually used with God and deities?
眷
(1) family dependent
(2) care for, have tender feeling for, take interest in

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顧
(2) [v] look after; attend to

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眷顧
(divine) protection and care; to take care of

Both 眷顧 and 照顾 mean &quot;to take care of/ to look after&quot;. But 眷 carries the meaning of 'family dependent' therefore 眷顧 also carries the meaning of &quot; to take care of someone like family dependent&quot; or &quot; to protect and care for someone like family dependent&quot;

You can 照顾 a garden, but you cannot 眷顧 it.

When you say you 照顾家人, that means you look after your family. ( with or without emotional attachment)

When you say you 眷顾家人, that means you love, protect and look after your family dependent.(with emotional attachment)

神的眷顾 = God's protection and care (All man are God's children)