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守る (まもる, mamoru) Japanese meaning: protect | Kotomora
Common word› JLPT N3 › Freq. Frequency Top 1,000 Conjugation 守る · godan verb (-ru)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 守まも る 守まも らない Polite 守まも ります 守まも りません Past polite 守まも りました 守まも りませんでした Past 守まも った 守まも らなかった Te-form 守まも って 守まも らないで Desire 守まも りたい 守まも りたくない Potential 守まも れる 守まも れない Passive 守まも られる 守まも られない Causative 守まも らせる 守まも らせない Causative passive 守まも らせられる also 守まも らされる 守まも らせられない also 守まも らされない Volitional 守まも ろう Polite volitional 守まも りましょう Imperative 守まも れ 守まも るな Conditional 守まも れば 守まも らなければ Tara conditional 守まも ったら 守まも らなかったら
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険けん
から
守まも
る
。
Parents protect their children from danger.
He fought to defend his country.
Usage patterns 規き 則そく を 守まも る to follow the rules
You must follow the school rules.
国くに を 守まも る to protect one's country
The soldiers fought to protect their country.
秘ひ 密みつ を 守まも る to keep a secret
She kept the secret with her friend.
時じ 間かん を 守まも る to be on time; to keep to a schedule
Please be on time for the meeting.
Expressions· 13 操みさお を 守まも る adhere to one's principles; preserve one's chastity 株くい を 守まも る stick stubbornly to old ways; be overly conservative; refuse to adapt 格かく を 守まも る observe the rules; follow the rules 法ほう を 守まも る observe the law; abide by the law Show 3 more 節せつ を 守まも る stick to one's principles; maintain one's integrity 身み を 守まも る defend oneself; protect oneself See all 13 in Explore →
Related words· 10 保護する is more formal and often used for institutional or legal protection, while 守る covers broader, more personal acts of protecting.
遵守する is a formal, written-style word for observing laws or rules, while 守る is the everyday verb used for the same idea.
かばう means to shield or cover for someone (often taking blame or a blow), while 守る is the general word for protecting someone or something.
従う means to obey or comply with an order or authority, while 守る emphasizes voluntarily upholding a promise or rule.
Show 6 more 防御する focuses on defending against an attack, often in military or sports contexts, whereas 守る applies to a much wider range of situations.
守る is the broader verb for protecting or keeping someone/something safe, while 防ぐ specifically means to block or stop a particular harm, attack, or problem.
守る is the everyday verb for protecting or keeping something safe, while 防衛 is a more formal, often institutional or strategic term for defense.
Opposites· 6 破る means to break a promise or rule, the direct opposite of 守る in the sense of upholding one.
攻める means to attack, the opposite action to 守る's sense of defending or guarding.
守る means to protect or defend, the direct opposite of 襲う's sense of attacking or assaulting.
Don't confuse with 見守る means to watch over or observe attentively without necessarily acting, while 守る means to actively protect or uphold something.
守 (かみ) is a historical noun for a ritsuryō official, while 守る (まもる) is the common verb meaning 'to protect'; learners may mistake the reading because they share the same kanji.
Written forms 守まも る Usage 95%
Standard kanji form for all senses.
まもる Usage 3%
護まも る Usage 3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; sometimes seen for physical protection or guarding.
Etymology Native Japanese verb. The kanji 守 is conventionally associated with protection and observance.
ガード
N1
守る is the native Japanese verb meaning 'to protect' in a broad sense, while ガード is a loanword used for guarding in sports, security, or physical contexts and often paired with する.
守る is the basic verb for 'to protect' used in everyday speech, whereas 守護 is a more abstract, formal noun that pairs with する for the same idea.
守る means to protect or keep a promise/rule, while 貫く stresses sticking firmly to one's own principle or course of action despite opposition.
Show 3 more 守る means 'to defend' or 'protect', the opposite action to 討つ, which means to attack or defeat an enemy.
守る means to keep or obey a rule or law, the opposite of 犯す, which means to break or violate one.
守る means to keep or honor a promise, the direct opposite of 違える, which means to break or go against one.
神がみ
guardian deity; tutelary god
protect to the end; hold fast; defend steadfastly
Show 10 more guard; watchman
sword for self-defense
guardian; custodian; preserver · watchman; guard; lookout
paper charm; talisman
small protective charm pouch
fruit left on a tree over winter
protect and help; safeguard; preserve
protect to the end; hold on to; defend successfully
guardian deity; tutelary deity
stare at; gaze intently · closely defend; guard tightly