保ほ険けんをかける

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

insure (something)

Literal meaning: to take out an insurance policy on something. Used with objects like 車, 家, 生命, etc.

新しん車しゃに保ほ険けんをかけるのを忘わすれないでください。
Don't forget to insure your new car.
家いえに火か災さい保ほ険けんをかけている。
I have fire insurance on my house.

2

expression, ichidan verb

hedge one's bets; play it safe; have a backup plan

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic use: to take precautions or prepare a fallback in case something goes wrong. Often used in business, planning, or personal decisions.

試し験けんに落おちたときのために、別べつの大だい学がくにも保ほ険けんをかけておいた。
I hedged my bets by applying to another university in case I failed the exam.
彼かれはいつも保ほ険けんをかけるような言いい方かたをする。
He always speaks in a way that plays it safe.

Written forms

保ほ険けんをかける
Standard kanji spelling for both literal and figurative uses.
保ほ険けんを掛かける
Alternate kanji spelling using 掛ける; less common but acceptable.

Kanji

保protect, guarantee, keep
険precipitous, inaccessible place, impregnable position
掛hang, suspend, depend

Similar words

保ほ険けん
保険 is the noun 'insurance'; 保険をかける is the verb phrase meaning 'to insure' or 'to take precautions'.
用よう心じんする
用心する means 'to be careful' or 'to take care' in a general sense, while 保険をかける specifically implies preparing a backup or safety net.

Etymology

Compound of 保険 (insurance) + を + かける (to apply/put on). The literal meaning 'to take out insurance' extended metaphorically to 'hedge one's bets' or 'play it safe'.