掩护

掩護

yǎnhù

verb HSK 7-9 #2,922

Meanings

1 to cover; to provide cover for
2 to shield; to protect

Characters

to cover; to conceal

to protect; to guard

Literally 'conceal and protect' — used in military contexts for covering fire, and colloquially for covering for someone.

Examples

士兵们掩护队友撤退。

Shìbīng men yǎnhù duìyǒu chètuì.

The soldiers provided cover for their teammates to retreat.

你帮我掩护一下，我先走。

Nǐ bāng wǒ yǎnhù yíxià, wǒ xiān zǒu.

Cover for me — I'll leave first.

他用假身份作掩护。

Tāyòng jiǎ shēnfèn zuò yǎnhù.

He used a fake identity as cover.

Tips

usage

掩护 works both as a verb ('to cover for') and a noun ('cover'). 作掩护 means 'to serve as cover.' In everyday life, it's often used humorously — friends 'covering' for each other when someone is late or sneaking away.

Stroke Order

掩 yǎn

护 hù