保護する

hogo suru

to protect

この法律は子供を保護するためのものです。

This law is for protecting children.

formal

to protect someone or something from harm, danger, or damage

自然を保護する活動に参加した。

I participated in activities to protect nature.

政府は環境を保護する政策を打ち出した。

The government announced policies to protect the environment.

Commonly used in legal, environmental, and social contexts.

Collocations

環境を保護するto protect the environment子供を保護するto protect children権利を保護するto protect rights動物を保護するto protect animals

Synonyms

守るかばう擁護する

Antonyms

傷つける破壊する侵害する

Pro Tip

Common collocations

Remember common collocations like 環境を保護する (to protect the environment) and 子供を保護する (to protect children) to sound more natural in conversation.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. informal

While 保護する can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is more commonly found in formal writing, legal documents, or official statements. For casual conversation, 守る (mamoru) may be more natural.

Word Origin

From the noun 保護 (hogo, 'protection') + する (suru, 'to do'), forming a verb meaning 'to protect'. The kanji 保 (ho) means 'to keep' or 'to maintain', and 護 (go) means 'to defend' or 'to guard'.

Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts, but more common in formal writing or official statements. Often appears in legal, environmental, and social contexts.

Word Breakdown

保護

protection

root

する

to do

suffix

和英辞典