防

• Pinyin: fáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 防 = 阝 (mound, wall) + 方 (direction), meaning to defend or guard

Meaning

To guard against; to prevent; to defend. Indicates taking precautions against something.

Often used in compound words like 防水 (waterproof), 防火 (fireproof), 防晒 (sun protection). Can also be used alone meaning to be on guard. Common in safety and daily life contexts.

Examples

1. 出门前记得涂防晒霜，今天太阳很大。 Remember to apply sunscreen before going out, the sun is very strong today.
2. 这件衣服是防水的，下雨也不怕。 This piece of clothing is waterproof, so don't worry about rain.
3. 我们要注意防火，特别是冬天。 We need to pay attention to fire prevention, especially in winter.

Usage Guide

Context: safety, everyday, weather

Tone: cautious

Do Say

• 天气冷了，要注意防感冒。(It's getting cold, be careful to guard against catching a cold.)
• 这个地方蚊子多，要做好防蚊措施。(There are many mosquitoes here, take good anti-mosquito measures.)

Don't Say

• 我防了他的礼物 (Don't use 防 to mean rejecting or blocking a gift — 防 means guarding against danger or harm, not refusing things)

Origin & History

Originally written with the radical 阝 (mound/wall) and 方 (direction), suggesting defending against threats from all directions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal