保卫 bǎowèi to defend
to defend; to safeguard
How to remember 保卫: 保 to protect + 卫 to guard = to defend.
Characters
How it is used
- To defend/safeguard against attack - 保卫祖国 (bǎowèi zǔguó) to defend the motherland; 保卫和平 (defend peace).
- Grand/formal register with large, worthy objects (country, home, peace); not for guarding a physical door - that's 守 or 看守.
- Compare 保护 (bǎohù, general protect, everyday) - 保卫 implies active defense against a threat.
Example sentences
- 他们抵御入侵者，保卫了国家。 Tāmen dǐyù rùqīnzhě, bǎowèi le guójiā.They defended their country against the invaders.