fong4 bei6防備防备
Jyutpingfong4 bei6
Yalefòhng beih
Definition
To guard against; to take precautions against to avoid harm.
neutraldaily actionsother
How it's used
Focuses on the act of taking precautions or maintaining vigilance against a potential threat or negative outcome. It often implies a sense of alertness or strategic preparation rather than just physical defense. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is frequently used in daily life to describe being prepared for unexpected situations.
Examples
Remember to bring an umbrella when you go out, to prepare for sudden rain.
You need to be on guard against people playing tricks behind your back at work.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 預防, which is more commonly used for preventing specific diseases or negative events like 預防感冒. 防備 carries a stronger nuance of being on guard or defensive against an active threat or person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
