護 (hù) - To protect & to guard

護Tone 4

hù ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

護 · hù

To protect;

to guard;

to defend;

to shield;

to advocate for;

to take care of.

To protectto guardto defend

Usage highlights

ProtectNurseDefendGuardianAdvocatePatrol

Synonyms

  • 保— to protect; to guarantee
  • 卫— to guard; to defend
  • 守— to guard; to keep

Antonyms

  • 害— to harm; to damage
  • 攻— to attack; to assault
  • 弃— to abandon; to discard

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bodyguard protects the VIP (保护).
  • Please take good care of yourself (请护好自己).
  • He is a strong advocate for animal rights (护动物权益).
  • The nurse is caring for the patient (护士在护理病人).

Collocations

  • Protect(保护)
  • Nurse(护士)
  • Defend(护卫)
  • Guardian(护工)
  • Advocate(护持)
  • Patrol(巡逻护)

Idioms

  • To shield one's shortcomings(护短)
  • Mutual protection among officials(官官相护)
  • To protect the national treasure(护国宝)
  • Just and impartial, not shielding one's relatives(不护亲)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character embodies a sense of duty, care, and responsibility, often associated with roles like guardians, nurses, and advocates.
  • In traditional contexts, it can imply a righteous defense or protection of principles, people, or territories.
  • The radical 言 (speech) in its traditional form highlights the aspect of advocacy and verbal defense.

FAQ