How to Write 防 (fáng) — Meaning “To prevent, guard against, or defend.”

Picture a square guard tower (方) built on top of a hill (阝). This tower is used to watch for danger and defend the area, helping you connect the shape to the meaning "to prevent or guard against."

Write the left radical 阝 first with two strokes: a short horizontal curve then a vertical hook. Then add the right part 方: dot, horizontal stroke, horizontal hook, and a downward stroke inside. Keep 方 narrow so the character stays balanced; a common mistake is making the right side too wide.

The right side of 防 is 方 (square), while 邓 has 又 (hand) and 邗 has 干 (dry). 邓 is a surname and 邗 is a place name, so they are not used as verbs like 防. Visually, focus on the different right-side components to avoid confusion.

防 appears in many safety-related words like 预防 (prevention) and 防火 (fire prevention), often seen on public signs. It can also mean "to defend" in military or security contexts. In Chinese culture, disaster prevention is important, so you will encounter 防 frequently in official notices and everyday warnings.

Common words containing 防 include: 预防 (yù fáng) — To prevent / To take precautions; 防止 (fáng zhǐ) — To prevent or avoid.; 防火 (fáng huǒ) — Fire prevention or fireproof..