守 means “protect, keep”

まもる · mamoru

Also: guard, defend, obey

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まもる, まもり, もり, かみ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シュ, ス

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 6 strokes

The story

A hand (寸) under a roof (宀): someone keeping watch over the house. 守る is to protect or to keep a promise, an お守り from a shrine keeps its owner safe, and 留守 means nobody is home.

Used in 守る (mamoru, to protect/keep), お守り (omamori, protective charm), and 留守 (rusu, being away from home)

More from Law & Order

• 処 deal with
• 殺 kill
• 責 responsibility
• 捕 catch
• 危 dangerous
• 険 steep
• 罪 crime
• 犯 offense
• 逃 escape
• 盗 steal
• 制 control
• 治 heal

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