Meaning and Usage
"予防" (よぼう) means "prevention" or "protection against" something undesirable, such as illness or accidents. It is commonly used in health, safety, and risk management contexts.
Common Collocations
- 予防接種 (よぼうせっしゅ): vaccination, immunization
- 予防策 (よぼうさく): preventive measures
- 予防注射 (よぼうちゅうしゃ): preventive injection
- 火災予防 (かさいよぼう): fire prevention
Usage Notes
"予防" is a noun often combined with verbs like "する" (to do) to express taking preventive action (e.g., "予防する" means "to prevent"). It is formal and used in both spoken and written Japanese, especially in medical or official contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "予防" with "防止" (ぼうし), which also means "prevention." "予防" focuses on proactive measures before a problem occurs, while "防止" emphasizes stopping something from happening or continuing. For example, "予防接種" is vaccination to prevent disease, whereas "事故防止" means preventing accidents from occurring or recurring.