Chinese word

防

Pronunciation

Pinyinfáng

Meaning

  • verbprevent

Example

请注意防火安全。qǐng zhù yì fáng huǒ ān quán

Please pay attention to preventing fires and staying safe.

Illustration for 防 (prevent)

More examples

接种疫苗可以预防疾病。jiē zhòng yì miáo ké yǐ yù fáng jí bìng

Vaccination can prevent disease.

Core concept

Keeping a threat outside by preparing against it before it becomes a problem, or containing its effects when it does.

Common phrases

  • 预防疾病yù fáng jí bìng

    prevent disease

  • 防火灾fáng huǒ zāi

    prevent fires

  • 防盗窃fáng dào qiè

    prevent theft

Similar words

预防yù fáng: Acting in advance so that disease, accidents, or other trouble do not occur.
防止fáng zhǐ: Preventing a harmful event or unwanted action from occurring.

Definition in Chinese

表示采取措施以避免或减少损害、危险或不良后果的行为或方法。biǎo shì cái qǔ cuò shī yǐ bì miǎn huò jián shǎo sǔn hài wēi xiǎn huò bù liáng hòu guǒ de xíng wéi huò fāng fǎ

Word origin

防 (fáng, "prevent") uses 阝 (fù, "mound") for its meaning and 方 (fāng, "direction") for its sound, reflecting how a bank or wall can keep danger out.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may associate defensive language mainly with conflict, but this Chinese verb also applies broadly to accidents, illness, loss, and other unwanted outcomes.

Related words

Word lists with this word