English–Chinese
“defend oneself” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinzì wèi
Example
她被推搡时本能地自卫。tā bèi tuī sǎng shí běn néng dì zì wèi
She instinctively defended herself when she was jostled.
How to say “defend oneself” in Chinese
“Defend oneself” in Chinese is 自卫 (zì wèi).
Protecting one's own safety or rights when an outside force, demand, or attack puts them at risk.
Example sentences with 自卫
法律在某些情况下承认公民的自卫行为，但必须在合理限度内。fǎ lǜ zài mǒu xiē qíng kuàng xià chéng rèn gōng mín de zì wèi xíng wéi dàn bì xū zài hé lǐ xiàn dù nèi
The law recognizes citizens' acts of self-defense in some cases, but only when they are within reasonable limits.
Tips for using 自卫
- English speakers may expect this word to mean only physical protection, but Chinese also uses it for protecting a right or interest during a dispute.