保护
Traditional: 保護
bǎo hù HSK 4

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我们要保护环境。
Wǒmen yào bǎohù huánjìng.
We need to protect the environment.
警察保护人民。
Jǐngchá bǎohù rénmín.
The police protect the people.
这个软件保护电脑。
Zhège ruǎnjiàn bǎohù diànnǎo.
This software protects the computer.
我们要保护环境。
Wǒmen yào bǎohù huánjìng.
We must protect the environment.
警察保护人民。
Jǐngchá bǎohù rénmín.
Police protect the people.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 保 (bǎo) means 'to preserve' or 'keep,' and 护 (hù) means 'to guard' or 'shield.' Think of it as 'preserve and guard' to remember its meaning of 'to protect.'

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and is used in both spoken and written Chinese across various contexts. It is commonly applied in discussions about environmental conservation (保护环境), legal rights (保护权益), personal safety (保护自己), and cultural heritage (保护文化遗产).

📖 Grammar Points

保护 is a transitive verb and typically follows the structure: Subject + 保护 + Object (e.g., 政府保护公民。). It can be used in imperative forms (请保护眼睛) and is often paired with modal verbs like 要, 应该, or 必须 to express necessity (必须保护森林).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 保护 reflects values of collective responsibility and harmony, such as in environmental slogans like '保护地球,人人有责' (Protecting the Earth is everyone's duty). It is also emphasized in family contexts, where elders are expected to protect younger members.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 保卫 (bǎowèi), which implies defending against active threats (often for nations or large entities), 保护 is broader and more general, focusing on prevention and care. 维护 (wéihù) means 'to maintain' or 'uphold,' often for abstract things like秩序 (order) or 利益 (interests), while 保护 is more physical or direct.

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