捍

hàn
verb #58,170

Meanings

  1. 1 to defend; to guard
  2. 2 to ward off; to withstand (a blow)

Examples

HSK 7-9
Zhànshì men shìsǐ hànwèi zǔguó.
The soldiers fought to the death to defend their homeland.
HSK 7-9
Wǒmen yào jiānjué hànwèi zìjǐ de zhèngdàng quányì.
We must firmly defend our legitimate rights.

Tips

usage
Almost always 捍卫 ('to defend / safeguard'), used for abstract things you protect resolutely: a homeland, rights, dignity, the truth. Stronger and more solemn than the everyday 保护 (to protect).

Components

radical
扌 shǒu
hand (left-side radical)
Hand radical on the left, side-form of 手. It marks a hand action - here putting up one's hands to fend off an attack and guard something. Same family as 护 to protect, 挡 to block, 扶 to support.
phonetic
旱 hàn
drought; dry
Right side 旱 supplies the sound hàn directly. It is purely phonetic; 'drought' has nothing to do with this 'to defend' word. Same phonetic in 焊 to weld and 悍 fierce.

Stroke Order

捍 hàn