Chinese word

防卫

Pronunciation

Pinyinfáng wèi

Meaning

  • verbdefend

Example

他们必须防卫边境。tā men bì xū fáng wèi biān jìng

They must defend the border.

Illustration for 防卫 (defend)

More examples

军队派遣增援前往防卫海岛。jūn duì pài qiǎn zēng yuán qián wǎng fáng wèi hái dǎo

The army sent reinforcements to defend the island.

Core concept

Keep a person, place, or area safe by stopping an attack, intrusion, or other harm from getting through.

Common phrases

  • 防卫边境fáng wèi biān jìng

    defend the border

  • 防卫国家fáng wèi guó jiā

    defend the country

Similar words

保卫bǎo wèi: Protect people or places by providing guards or an escort.
守卫shǒu wèi: Watch over a gate or fixed point to prevent entry.
防守fáng shǒu: Hold and defend a position when an attacking force tries to enter.
保护bǎo hù: Keep a person or thing safe from harm through care and management.

Definition in Chinese

为防止侵入、攻击或损害而进行的抵御和保护的行为或措施。wèi fáng zhǐ qīn rù gōng jī huò sǔn hài ér jìn xíng de dǐ yù hé bǎo hù de xíng wéi huò cuò shī

Word origin

防卫 (fángwèi, "defend") combines 防 (fáng, "block or prevent") with 卫 (wèi, "guard"), joining the idea of stopping danger with that of keeping what is inside safe.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this word often sounds formal and suits borders, buildings, and other clearly defined areas more than casual watching or brief personal protection.

Other meanings

  • protectverb
  • guardverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 防卫线fáng wèi xiàndefensive linenoun
  • 防卫工事fáng wèi gōng shìdefensive fortificationsnoun

Word lists with this word