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护卫 (hù wèi) — to guard, to protect (in a formal or security context)

Definition

Formal verb for 'to guard / protect' a person, place, or object in a security or military context — more serious than 保护, which is used for everyday 'protect' (protect the environment, protect children).

verb
to guardto protect (in a formal or security context)

Examples

  • 护卫。
    Shì bīng men hù wèi zhe zhòng yào rén wù.
    The soldiers are guarding the important person.
  • 护卫。
    Tā men rì yè hù wèi zhe zhè zuò dà qiáo.
    They guard this bridge day and night.
  • 护卫，。
    Jǐng chá hù wèi zhe xiàn chǎng, bú ràng rèn hé rén kào jìn.
    The police are guarding the scene, not letting anyone approach.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

护hùprotect
卫wèiguard

“护” and “卫” both mean protect or guard, so together they express guarding or protection.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
户
户hù护hù
Same sound today

护 combines 扌 (the hand form 手) with 户, which gives the sound hù.

Open 护 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 衛; 卫 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
韋
韋wéi衛wèi
Same sound today

The traditional form 衛 is built from 行 as the sense part and 韋 as the sound part; the simplified 卫 is a shorthand.

Open 卫 →
Appears in
Safety & Danger

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