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保卫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
保卫bǎowèito defendHSK 7, v, rank #4888, Hard
保卫bǎowèito safeguardHSK 7, v, rank #4888, Hard
bǎowèi(bao3wei4) T3
  1. 1to defend
  2. 2to safeguard
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March 24, 2026
保卫(保衛)bǎowèi(bao3wei4)

保卫 means 'to defend' or 'to safeguard.' It is commonly used in contexts relating to protecting a person, place, or idea from danger or harm. This verb often appears in discussions about national security, personal safety, and protecting rights.

Frequency#4888DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of safeguarding is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, often emphasized in discussions about national pride and the role of the military. It reflects historical contexts where defense against invasions was critical.

Memory Tip

Imagine a soldier (保) standing guard (卫) with a shield, ready to protect a castle. The '保' (bǎo) part looks like a 'protective barrier,' while '卫' (wèi) represents a 'defensive position'. Together, they symbolize the act of safeguarding.

Meanings of 保卫

bǎowèi(bao3wei4)
1to defend
2to safeguard
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 保卫

保卫Simplified
保衛Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4888Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 保卫

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Podcast: 保卫

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AI Study Notes for 保卫

Quick Contrast

捍卫 (hànwèi) — use 保卫 for general defense and捍卫 for a more assertive or principled form of defense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a soldier (保) standing guard (卫) with a shield, ready to protect a castle. The '保' (bǎo) part looks like a 'protective barrier,' while '卫' (wèi) represents a 'defensive position'. Together, they symbolize the act of safeguarding.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 保卫 with other similar verbs like 保护 (bǎohù), which means 'to protect' but with a broader, less aggressive connotation. '保卫' is often used in formal contexts, especially related to security forces or military.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 保卫 connects with other verbs of action and protection, such as 保护 (bǎohù) and 捍卫 (hànwèi). Focus on using it in formal writing or discussions about security and defense.

Cultural Note

The concept of safeguarding is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, often emphasized in discussions about national pride and the role of the military. It reflects historical contexts where defense against invasions was critical.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 保卫 when discussing non-aggressive protection, leading to awkward phrasing. For example, saying '我保卫我的朋友' (I defend my friend) should be corrected to '我保护我的朋友' (I protect my friend).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 保卫

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Component Characters

bǎoto defend
HSK 59 strokes
View full entry
wèivassal state during the Zhou Dynasty (1066-221 BC), located in present day Henan and Hebei Provinces
HSK 53 strokes
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Write 保卫

Practice writing 保卫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 保卫

保卫 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

每个能够参加战斗的男子现在都决心要____这条山脊。

Every man who could fight was now committed to defend the ridge.

Example Sentences for 保卫 (3)

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1
每个能够参加战斗的男子现在都决心要保卫这条山脊。

měi gè néng gòu cān jiā zhàn dǒu de nán zǐ xiàn zài dū jué xīn yào bǎo wèi zhè tiáo shān jǐ。

Every man who could fight was now committed to defend the ridge.
2
将军派遣一支小部队去保卫宫殿.

jiāng jūn pài qiǎn yī zhī xiǎo bù duì qù bǎo wèi gōng diàn.

The general detached a small force to go and guard the palace.
3
因为你能披坚执锐,保卫祖国, 我们都为你感到自豪.

yīn wéi nǐ néng pī jiān zhí ruì, , bǎo wèi zǔ, guó , wǒ mén dū wéi nǐ gǎn dào.

Because you are able to take up arms and defend your motherland, we are all proud of you.

Cultural Notes for 保卫

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of safeguarding is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, often emphasized in discussions about national pride and the role of the military. It reflects historical contexts where defense against invasions was critical.

Frequently Asked Questions about 保卫

It's more commonly found in formal discussions or written contexts, such as news articles about security.