海防 (hǎi fáng) — coastal defense; Haiphong (city in Vietnam)

Definition

A noun meaning both 'coastal defense' (the military concept) and 'Haiphong', a port city in northern Vietnam. The same word covers both senses — context tells you which is meant.

coastal defenseHaiphong (city in Vietnam)

Examples

  • 海防。
    Gǔ dài zhōng guó yán hǎi dì qū fēi cháng zhòng shì hǎi fáng jiàn shè.
    Ancient China's coastal regions placed great importance on coastal defense construction.
  • 海防，。
    Wǒ qù nián qù le yuè nán de hǎi fáng shì, nà lǐ hěn piào liang.
    I visited Haiphong city in Vietnam last year; it's very beautiful there.
  • 海防。
    Jiā qiáng hǎi fáng xū yào xiàn dài jì shù hé shè bèi.
    Strengthening coastal defense requires modern technology and equipment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

海hǎisea
防fángdefense

海防 joins 海 and 防 to mean guarding the sea area.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
每
每měi海hǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

海 pairs 氵 (water) with 每, which gives the sound. The 氵 side shows it is about water.

Open 海 →

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng防fáng
Same sound today

防 pairs 阝 (written fully as 阜) with 方, which gives the sound.

Open 防 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.