to protect, to defend, to guard against

JLPT N2 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Meaning

The character (fáng) primarily means "to prevent," "to guard against," or "to defend." It is commonly used in contexts related to protection or prevention, such as (fire prevention), (sun protection), and 防疫 (epidemic prevention).

Common Collocations

  • (fánghuǒ): fire prevention
  • (fángshài): sun protection
  • 防疫 (fángyì): epidemic prevention

These collocations show used to indicate measures taken to avoid or guard against something harmful.

Usage Notes

is often followed by a noun indicating what is being prevented or guarded against. It can be used both as a verb and as part of compound nouns. It is more formal and specific than some synonyms like 抵抗 (dǐkàng, to resist) or 避免 (bìmiǎn, to avoid), which may have broader or different nuances.

Common Confusion

is about active prevention or defense, not just avoidance. For example, means taking active steps to prevent fire, not just avoiding fire. Avoid confusing with , which emphasizes avoidance rather than defense.

Example Sentences

We should take measures to prevent fires.

He bought sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

Epidemic prevention work is very important, especially during flu season.