防 means “prevent, defend”

ふせぐ · fusegu

Also: ward off, protect, resist

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ふせぐ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ボウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 5 · 7 strokes

The story

An earthen bank (阝) built along one side (方): a dike holding back the floodwater, which is what 防 first meant. 防ぐ is to prevent, 予防 is prevention, and every September 1, 防災の日, Japan holds drills to prepare for earthquakes.

Used in 防ぐ (fusegu, to prevent), 予防 (yobou, prevention), and 防災 (bousai, disaster prevention)

More from Warriors & Rivals

• 武 martial
• 被 suffer
• 兵 soldier
• 競 compete
• 将 commander
• 暴 violent
• 圧 pressure
• 爆 explode
• 乱 disorder
• 刺 stab
• 勇 courage
• 隻 counter for ships

Learn 防 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

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