防
ward off, defend, protect, resist
Readings
On'yomi
- ボウ
Kun'yomi
- ふせ.ぐ
Nanori
- あた
- う
- ほう
Meaning
防 centers on active defense: warding off threats, protecting against harm, and resisting attack.
Most common words using 防
24 of 422- 防衛ぼうえいN1
defense; defence; protection
- 防ぐふせぐN3
to defend against; to protect against
- 防止ぼうしN3
prevention; check
- 予防よぼうN3
prevention; protection (against); precaution
- 防御ぼうぎょN1
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
- 防災ぼうさいN1
disaster preparedness; prevention of damage resulting from a natural disaster; protection against disaster
- 消防しょうぼうN3
fire fighting
- 防犯ぼうはんN2
prevention of crime
- 国防こくぼうN1
national defence; national defense
- 防水ぼうすいN1
waterproofing; making watertight
- 防護ぼうご
protection
- 防弾ぼうだん
bulletproof; bombproof
- 堤防ていぼうN1
bank; weir; embankment; levee
- 攻防こうぼう
offense and defense; offence and defence
- 消防署しょうぼうしょN2
fire station
- 消防車しょうぼうしゃN2
fire engine; fire truck
- 防音ぼうおんN1
soundproofing
- 防空ぼうくう
air defense; air defence
- 防火ぼうかN1
fire prevention; fire control; fireproofing
- 防波堤ぼうはてい
breakwater; mole
- 消防庁しょうぼうちょう
Fire and Disaster Management Agency
- 防疫ぼうえき
communicable disease control (e.g. by quarantine, disinfection, etc.); prevention of epidemics
- 防戦ぼうせんN1
defensive fight (battle)
- 防衛庁ぼうえいちょう
Japan Defense Agency (became Ministry of Defense in January 2007)
Study
Etymology
防 combines ⻖ (hill, mound) with 方, which likely contributes the sound. The hill radical suggests an earthen barrier or rampart used for defense.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side ⻖ is a hill or mound, and the right side 方 looks like a direction or method. Picture building a defensive mound in every direction to ward off enemies.
Reading mnemonic
For ボウ, imagine a bow (as in bow and arrow) used to defend a hill fort: bow -> ボウ, and the archer wards off attackers from the mound.