防守

• Pinyin: fáng shǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 防 = guard against; 守 = 宀 (roof) + 寸 (inch) — guarding the house

Meaning

To defend; defense. Protecting against attack in sports, military, or other competitive contexts.

Primary use in sports (basketball, soccer) and military strategy. Key phrases: 防守战术 (defensive tactics), 防守反击 (counter-attack from defense), 防守型球员 (defensive player). Opposite of 进攻 (offense/attack).

Examples

1. 这支球队的防守非常出色，很少被对手攻破球门。 This team's defense is excellent; opponents rarely score against them.
2. 他是队里最好的防守球员，一对一很少被过。 He's the best defensive player on the team and is rarely beaten one-on-one.
3. 最后几分钟，球队选择了防守反击的战术。 In the final few minutes, the team chose to play counter-attacking defense.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, military, strategy

Tone: tactical

Do Say

• 他们的防守太松了，给了对手太多机会。(Their defense is too loose; they're giving the opponent too many chances.)
• 防守是赢得比赛的关键。(Defense is the key to winning games.)

Don't Say

• 把一般的'保护'说成防守 (Don't use 防守 for general protection — it specifically implies tactical defense against opponents; use 保护 for general protection)

Origin & History

Compound of 防 (guard, prevent) + 守 (guard, keep). Both characters relate to protecting/guarding.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal