defense, protection
On'yomi (音読み)
- エイ
- エ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
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About this kanji
The kanji 衛 (ei) primarily means defense or protection, and it is used mostly in noun form. You'll often find it in words related to safety and hygiene. For example, 衛星 (えいせい) means 'satellite,' which is something that orbits and helps us communicate. Another common compound is 衛生 (えいせい), meaning 'hygiene,' which is essential for health and cleanliness. There’s also 自衛 (じえい), meaning 'self-defense,' highlighting the idea of protecting oneself. This kanji emphasizes the importance of safeguarding, be it in a physical or health-related context. Note that this kanji is mostly used in formal or technical terms.
Example sentences
衛星が地球の周りを回っている。
The satellite orbits around the Earth.
Meanings across languages
- English
- defense, protection
- Tiếng Việt
- phòng vệ, bảo vệ
- 日本語
- 防衛, 保護
- 한국어
- 방어, 보호
- 中文
- 防御, 保护
- id
- pertahanan
- th
- การป้องกัน
- es
- defensa
- fr
- défense
- de
- Verteidigung
- pt
- defesa
Common compounds
- 衛星えいせい(natural) satellite, moon, (artificial) satellite
- 衛生えいせいhygiene, sanitation, cleanliness
- 自衛じえいself-defense, self-defence
- 防衛ぼうえいdefense, defence, protection
- 自衛隊じえいたいJapan Self-Defense Forces, JSDF, self-defence force
- 自衛官じえいかんJapanese Self-Defense Force official, Self-Defense Force official
- 防衛庁ぼうえいちょうJapan Defense Agency (became Ministry of Defense in January 2007)
- 陸上自衛隊りくじょうじえいたいJapan Ground Self-Defense Force, JGSDF
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