防

fáng

方 + 阝

HSK 3.0Level 5

Frequency#548

Definitions

fáng (verb) to protect; to defend

fáng (verb) to prevent; to guard against

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 方

About

The character "防" is structured with the earth-related radical "阝" on the left and the phonetic component "方" on the right, indicating its original meaning connected to physical barriers such as dikes and embankments designed for flood control. From this concrete reference to hydraulic engineering, the term gradually extended to encompass more general notions of prevention and defense, which are now central to its usage in contemporary language, as seen in words like "防止" for preventing and "防御" for defending.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

下雨天要防滑。

Xià yǔ tiān yào fáng huá.

On rainy days, be careful of slipping.

夏天必须防晒。

Xià tiān bì xū fáng shài.

In summer, you must use sun protection.

我们要预防感冒。

Wǒ men yào yù fáng gǎn mào.

We need to prevent colds.

这种材料可以防火。

Zhè zhǒng cái liào kě yǐ fáng huǒ.

This material is fireproof.

政府加强了防洪措施。

Zhèng fǔ jiā qiáng le fáng hóng cuò shī.

The government has strengthened flood prevention measures.

他们正在防御敌人的攻击。

Tā men zhèng zài fáng yù dí rén de gōng jī.

They are defending against enemy attacks.

为了防范网络诈骗，我们要小心。

Wèi le fáng fàn wǎng luò zhà piàn, wǒ men yào xiǎo xīn.

To guard against online fraud, we need to be careful.

在公共场所，必须做好安全防护工作。

Zài gōng gòng chǎng suǒ, bì xū zuò hǎo ān quán fáng hù gōng zuò.

In public places, it is necessary to do a good job of safety protection work.

Related Characters

Component: 方

Component: 阝

防