KanjiSchool
防
防 (readings: ぼう, ふせ; Japanese kanji) means “prevent / defend”. It is a Grade 5 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 5 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 予防 (prevention).
What does 防 mean?
| Kanji | 防 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | prevent / defend |
| Readings | ぼう, ふせ |
| Grade | Grade 5 (Hard) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 防
防 is read ぼう or ふせ depending on the word.
Example words with 防
| Example | 予防 (prevention) |
|---|
Practice writing 防 — free
See 防's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14