衛 means “guard, defend”

えい · ei

Also: defense, protection

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エイ, エ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 16 strokes

The story

Inside a crossroads (行) stands 韋, which once showed feet pacing round a walled town (口): sentries on their rounds. 衛 is guarding: 防衛 is defense, a 衛星, a guardian star, is a satellite, and 衛生, guarding life, is hygiene.

Used in 衛生 (eisei, hygiene), 衛星 (eisei, satellite), and 防衛 (bouei, defense)

More from Help & Protect

• 救 save
• 養 nourish
• 祉 welfare
• 擁 embrace
• 恩 kindness
• 扶 support
• 保 keep
• 援 help
• 護 protect

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.