防ぐ

• Reading: ふせぐ
• Romaji: fusegu
• Kanji breakdown: 防 (bō/fuse) — to defend, to protect, to prevent
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.se.ɡɯ/

Meaning

To defend against; to protect against; to prevent. Used for blocking threats or stopping problems before they occur.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the ぐ row. Covers both active defense (defending against an attack) and preventive measures (preventing disease). Related to 予防 (prevention), 防止 (prevention), and 防犯 (crime prevention). Very common in health, safety, and security contexts.

Examples

1. 手を洗って風邪を防ぎましょう。 Let's wash our hands to prevent catching a cold.
2. この壁は洪水を防ぐために作られた。 This wall was built to protect against floods.
3. 火事を防ぐには日頃の注意が大切だ。 Being careful on a daily basis is important for preventing fires.

Usage Guide

Context: health, safety, security

Tone: practical

Origin & History

The kanji 防 combines 阝 (mound/embankment) and 方 (direction), originally meaning an embankment built to defend against flooding.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal