Meaning and Usage
The verb 防ぐ (ふせぐ) means "to prevent," "to protect," or "to defend against" something undesirable. It is commonly used in contexts where you want to stop something negative from happening, such as illness, crime, or accidents.
Common Collocations
- 風邪を防ぐ (かぜをふせぐ): to prevent a cold
- 泥棒を防ぐ (どろぼうをふせぐ): to prevent burglars
- 情報漏えいを防ぐ (じょうほうろうえいをふせぐ): to prevent information leaks
These collocations show 防ぐ used with concrete nouns representing what is being prevented.
Register and Politeness
防ぐ is a standard verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It is neutral in politeness and often appears in instructions, advice, and warnings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 防ぐ with 守る (まもる), which means "to protect" or "to obey." While 守る can imply ongoing protection or following rules, 防ぐ focuses on actively preventing something from happening. Use 防ぐ when emphasizing prevention or defense against a threat.
Summary
Use 防ぐ when you want to talk about stopping or preventing something harmful or unwanted. It pairs naturally with nouns describing risks or dangers and is useful in everyday conversation about health, safety, and security.