预防针 (yùfángzhēn): immunization injection

Measure Word

打一针预防针 zhēn

Meanings

1 immunization injection
2 vaccination
3 (fig.) forewarning
4 heads-up
5 preventive measure

Characters

预

yù

in advance; to prepare

防

fáng

to prevent; to guard against

针

zhēn

needle; injection

Examples

孩子需要定期打预防针。

Háizi xūyào dìngqī dǎ yùfángzhēn.

Children need to get vaccination injections regularly.

领导提前给大家打了个预防针，让大家有心理准备。

Lǐngdǎo tíqián gěi dàjiā dǎ le gè yùfángzhēn, ràng dàjiā yǒuxīn lǐ zhǔnbèi.

The leader gave everyone a heads-up in advance so they could be mentally prepared.

Tips

usage

Besides the literal medical meaning (vaccine shot), 打预防针 is widely used figuratively to mean 'to warn someone in advance' or 'to give a heads-up'.

Stroke Order

预 yù

防 fáng

针 zhēn

Related Words

预防接种 yùfáng jiēzhòng

preventive vaccination / prophylactic inoculation / immunization

预防 yùfáng HSK 3 #8,000

to prevent / precaution / prevention

预防措施 yùfáng cuòshī

preventive measure / precaution

预防为主 yùfáng wéizhǔ

prevention first / to give priority to prevention / 'prevention as the guiding principle'

打针 dǎzhēn HSK 4 #9,935

to get an injection / to give an injection

针 zhēn HSK 4 #2,513

needle; pin / injection; shot / stitch

预定 yùdìng HSK 7-9 #4,908

to reserve / to book / to schedule

预料 yùliào HSK 7-9 #4,706

to anticipate / to expect / to predict

预备 yùbèi HSK 5 #4,344

to prepare / to get ready / preparation

预算 yùsuàn HSK 7-9 #4,316

budget / to budget