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护身 (hù shēn) — to protect oneself, to shield oneself (from harm)

Definition

护身 (hùshēn) means 'to protect oneself' — commonly seen in compounds like 护身符 ('amulet, lucky charm'). Often used in contexts of self-defense or warding off harm.

verb
to protect oneselfto shield oneself (from harm)

Examples

  • 。
    Tā měi cì chū mén qián dōu yào hù yí xià shēn.
    He always protects himself before going out.
  • 护身。
    Zhè ge zhòu yǔ kě yǐ hù shēn.
    This spell can protect oneself.
  • 护身。
    Tā xiāng xìn zhè ge shí tou néng hù shēn.
    He believes this stone can protect him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

护hùprotect
身shēnbody

To 护 protect the 身 body means to shield oneself.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →
Appears in
Safety & Danger

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