護 meaning and stroke order
To defend, to guard, to protect; shelter; endorse
How to write 護, stroke by stroke
21 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 護
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) to protect; to guard
- to defend (sb) out of partiality
How 護 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 蒦 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 護
護 is built from 言 (speech) on the left and 蒦 on the right, which gives the sound. Picture someone using words to speak up for a person and protect them, like a lawyer defending a client.
護 (hù) is a bound form, so it appears inside words like 保護 (bǎohù, to protect), 愛護 (àihù, to cherish), and 護照 (hùzhào, passport). It can also mean defending someone out of partiality, as in 護短 (hùduǎn, to shield someone's faults). Example: 我們要保護環境。(Wǒmen yào bǎohù huánjìng.) We should protect the environment.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side 蒦 incorrectly or confuse 護 with 獲 (huò, to obtain), which shares the same 蒦 part but has the animal radical 犭. Remember that 護 takes 言 for speaking in someone's defense.
Common words with 護
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 護照 | hùzhào | passport | HSK 2 |
| 保護 | bǎohù | to protect; to defend | HSK 3 |
| 護士 | hùshi | nurse | HSK 4 |
| 維護 | wéihù | to defend; to safeguard | HSK 4 |
| 愛護 | àihù | to cherish; to treasure | HSK 4 |
| 掩護 | yǎnhù | to screen; to shield | HSK 7-9 |
| 救護車 | jiùhùchē | ambulance | HSK 7-9 |
| 辯護 | biànhù | to speak in defense of; to argue in favor of | HSK 7-9 |
| 守護 | shǒuhù | to guard; to protect | HSK 7-9 |
| 護理 | hùlǐ | to nurse; to care for | HSK 7-9 |
| 防護 | fánghù | to defend; to protect | HSK 7-9 |
| 看護 | kānhù | to nurse; to look after | HSK 7-9 |
| 監護 | jiānhù | to act as a guardian | HSK 7-9 |
| 擁護 | yōnghù | to endorse; to support | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 護
How many strokes are in 護?
護 is written with 21 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 護 mean?
護 (hù) means to defend, to guard, to protect; shelter; endorse. A common word with it is 护照 (hùzhào), meaning "passport".
How do you pronounce 護?
護 is pronounced hù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 護?
The radical of 護 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 護 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 護?
護 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 护, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 保護 and 維護?
保護 (bǎohù) is the general word for protecting people, animals, or things from harm. 維護 (wéihù) means to safeguard or maintain something, often abstract things like rights, order, or a system.
Can 護 be used alone as a verb?
In modern Mandarin it rarely stands alone in formal speech, but in casual speech you may hear 護著 (hùzhe), meaning to shield or take someone's side, as in 媽媽總是護著他 (Māma zǒngshì hùzhe tā), Mom always takes his side.