防御

• Pinyin: fáng yù
• Hanzi breakdown: 防 = 阝+ 方 (protective earthwork); 御 = 彳+ 卸 (movement + unloading — to manage an advancing force and deflect it)

Meaning

To defend; defense. The strategic act of resisting attack and protecting against harm, used in military, cybersecurity, sports, and psychological contexts.

More systematic and strategic than 防卫 (immediate self-defense). Implies a structured, planned approach to fending off threats. Common in military theory, game strategy, and cybersecurity. Collocates with 体系、能力、工事、阵地、战略、机制.

Examples

1. 这支球队在联赛中以严密的防御体系著称，本赛季失球数居于联赛最少之列，但进攻端的不足也使其难以在关键比赛中取得主动。 The team is known in the league for its tight defensive system. It has conceded among the fewest goals this season, but its weak offense also makes it hard to take control in crucial matches.
2. 军事战略家认为，在现代战争中，单纯依赖被动防御已经不够，必须构建具备主动探测和快速响应能力的综合防御体系。 Military strategists argue that in modern warfare, relying solely on passive defense is no longer enough. An integrated defense system with proactive detection and rapid response capabilities is essential.
3. 心理学研究表明，个体在面对威胁自我认知的信息时，往往会自动启动防御机制，倾向于寻找反驳证据而非客观评估。 Psychological research shows that when people face information that threatens their self-image, they often automatically activate defense mechanisms, tending to look for rebuttal evidence rather than evaluate it objectively.

Usage Guide

Context: military, sports, cybersecurity, psychology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该国花费数十年时间构建起完善的导弹防御体系，旨在拦截来自不同方向和高度的空中威胁，确保本土战略目标的安全。(The country spent decades building a comprehensive missile defence system designed to intercept airborne threats from different directions and altitudes, ensuring the safety of strategic targets on its territory.)
• 在网络安全领域，纵深防御理念要求企业不能依赖单一的安全工具，而应构建多层次、相互配合的防御机制以应对复杂威胁。(In the field of cybersecurity, the concept of defence-in-depth requires organisations not to rely on a single security tool, but to build a multi-layered, coordinated defence mechanism to address complex threats.)

Don't Say

• 防御性 as a standalone adjective in sports commentary — in Chinese sports, 防守型 (defensively oriented) is more natural; reserve 防御 for military, security, and strategic contexts

Origin & History

防 (to guard) + 御 (to control/ward off) — to actively manage and resist incoming threats

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal