護 means “protect, guard”

ご · go

Also: safeguard

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

まもる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ゴ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 20 strokes

The story

Words (言) beside a hand (又) cupping a bird (隹) under grass (艹): picture a keeper shielding a fledgling and murmuring to it. 護 is protecting: 保護 is protection, 看護師 is a nurse, and a 弁護士 is the lawyer who speaks for you in court.

Used in 保護 (hogo, protection), 看護 (kango, nursing), and 弁護士 (bengoshi, lawyer)

More from Help & Protect

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

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