fángwèi: 防卫 - Defense, to Defend

• Keywords: fangwei, 防卫, defense in Chinese, self-defense in Chinese, defend Chinese, fángwèi meaning, 正当防卫, Chinese self-defense law, military defense, protect in Chinese
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese word 防卫 (fángwèi), which translates to “defense” or “to defend.” This comprehensive guide covers its use in legal contexts like justifiable self-defense (正当防卫), military strategy, and personal safety. Understand its core meaning, cultural significance, and how it differs from similar words like `保护 (bǎohù)`, making it an essential term for anyone interested in Chinese law, society, or modern discourse.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fángwèi
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To defend against an attack; defense.
• In a Nutshell: 防卫 (fángwèi) is a formal and serious term for actively resisting a threat. It's not about general, passive protection, but about a direct response to an assault—be it physical, military, or legal. Think of it as putting up a shield or fighting back when an attack is already happening. It carries a strong sense of reaction and justification.

• 防 (fáng): This character means “to guard against,” “to prevent,” or “to protect.” The left side (阝) is a variant of 阜 (fù), which originally meant a mound or embankment, suggesting a barrier. The right side, 方 (fāng), provides the sound. So, 防 is like building a dam to prevent a flood—it's about stopping something hostile from getting through.
• 卫 (wèi): This character means “to guard” or “to protect.” Its ancient form depicted a person walking around the perimeter of a city or an enclosure, signifying a patrol or guard. It's the character you see in words like “bodyguard” (保卫) and “satellite” (卫星, literally “guarding star”).

When combined, 防卫 (fángwèi) creates a powerful compound word. 防 is about preparing for and preventing an attack, while 卫 is about the act of guarding. Together, they form the complete concept of “defense” in an active, responsive sense.

In Chinese culture, 防卫 (fángwèi) is most powerfully encountered in the legal concept of 正当防卫 (zhèngdāng fángwèi), or “justifiable self-defense.” This concept is a frequent topic of public and legal debate in China. Unlike the “Stand Your Ground” laws found in some parts of the United States, Chinese law historically placed a very strong emphasis on proportionality. The concept of 防卫过当 (fángwèi guòdàng), or “excessive defense,” is crucial. This means that if you use more force than is deemed necessary to stop an attacker, you could be held criminally liable. This reflects a broader cultural value that favors de-escalation, restraint, and avoiding conflict escalation whenever possible. While recent legal interpretations have been gradually expanding the scope of what is considered justifiable, the underlying principle of proportionality remains a key cultural and legal touchstone. Comparing 防卫 (fángwèi) to the English “defense,” `fángwèi` is less abstract. You wouldn't use it to “defend a title” in sports (the correct term is `卫冕 wèimiǎn`) or to “defend a thesis.” 防卫 is almost always tied to a concrete threat to one's physical safety, national security, or legal standing.

防卫 (fángwèi) is used in specific, often formal contexts.

• Legal Context: This is its most significant use. The term 正当防卫 (zhèngdāng fángwèi) is ubiquitous in news reports, legal discussions, and crime dramas when discussing self-defense cases.
• Military and National Security: It's used to describe a country's defensive capabilities, strategies, and actions. For example, `国防卫 (guófáng wèi)` refers to national defense, and a country might state that its military actions are purely for `防卫` purposes.
• Personal Safety: In conversations about self-defense classes, you might hear the term `防卫术 (fángwèi shù)` (self-defense techniques) or `女子防卫 (nǚzǐ fángwèi)` (women's self-defense). It implies learning techniques to actively fight off an attacker.

Its connotation is generally neutral to positive, as it implies a justified reaction to aggression. It is almost always used in a formal setting.

• Example 1:
  • 法官裁定他的行为属于正当防卫。
  • Pinyin: Fǎguān cáidìng tā de xíngwéi shǔyú zhèngdāng fángwèi.
  • English: The judge ruled that his actions constituted justifiable self-defense.
  • Analysis: This is the most common and important use of `防卫`. `正当防卫` is a fixed legal term.
• Example 2:
  • 学习一些基本的防卫技巧对每个人都很重要。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí yīxiē jīběn de fángwèi jìqiǎo duì měi ge rén dōu hěn zhòngyào.
  • English: Learning some basic defense techniques is important for everyone.
  • Analysis: Here, `防卫` is used as a noun to describe the skill or concept of personal defense.
• Example 3:
  • 该国声称其军事行动纯粹是出于防卫目的。
  • Pinyin: Gāi guó shēngchēng qí jūnshì xíngdòng chúncuì shì chūyú fángwèi mùdì.
  • English: The country claims its military actions are purely for defensive purposes.
  • Analysis: A formal statement in international relations or military contexts. `防卫` here emphasizes a reactive, not aggressive, stance.
• Example 4:
  • 面对危险时，他本能地做出了防卫的姿势。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì wēixiǎn shí, tā běnnéng de zuòchūle fángwèi de zīshì.
  • English: When faced with danger, he instinctively adopted a defensive posture.
  • Analysis: This describes the physical act of getting ready to defend oneself.
• Example 5:
  • 我们的防卫系统足以抵御任何潜在的威胁。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de fángwèi xìtǒng zúyǐ dǐyù rènhé qiánzài de wēixié.
  • English: Our defense system is sufficient to resist any potential threats.
  • Analysis: Used here in a technical or military sense, referring to a “defense system.”
• Example 6:
  • 这个课程教你如何在被攻击时进行有效防卫。
  • Pinyin: Zhège kèchéng jiāo nǐ rúhé zài bèi gōngjī shí jìnxíng yǒuxiào fángwèi.
  • English: This course teaches you how to effectively defend yourself when attacked.
  • Analysis: Here, `防卫` is a verb, “to defend.” The phrase `进行防卫` (jìnxíng fángwèi) means “to carry out a defense.”
• Example 7:
  • 心理防卫机制可以帮助我们应对创伤。
  • Pinyin: Xīnlǐ fángwèi jīzhì kěyǐ bāngzhù wǒmen yìngduì chuāngshāng.
  • English: Psychological defense mechanisms can help us cope with trauma.
  • Analysis: A more abstract, psychological usage. It shows how the core concept of “warding off a threat” can be applied metaphorically.
• Example 8:
  • 国家的防卫预算逐年增加。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā de fángwèi yùsuàn zhúnián zēngjiā.
  • English: The country's defense budget is increasing year by year.
  • Analysis: `防卫` is used as an adjective to modify “budget.” In English, this would simply be “defense budget.”
• Example 9:
  • 过度防卫在法律上是不被允许的。
  • Pinyin: Guòdù fángwèi zài fǎlǜ shàng shì bù bèi yǔnxǔ de.
  • English: Excessive defense is not permitted by law.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the important legal concept of `防卫过当` (excessive defense), a crucial nuance in Chinese law.
• Example 10:
  • 他有权防卫自己的家园不受侵犯。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu quán fángwèi zìjǐ de jiāyuán bù shòu qīnfàn.
  • English: He has the right to defend his homeland from invasion.
  • Analysis: This uses `防卫` in the context of protecting one's home or country, linking it to rights and duties.

• 防卫 (fángwèi) vs. 保护 (bǎohù): This is the most common point of confusion.
  • 防卫 is reactive defense against an active, ongoing threat. You `防卫` yourself against a mugger.
  • 保护 (bǎohù) is general protection of something valuable, often proactively. You `保护` the environment, `保护` your eyes from the sun, or `保护` a child. It's about keeping something safe from potential harm, not necessarily fighting back an attack.
  • *Incorrect:* 我要防卫我的孩子。(Wǒ yào fángwèi wǒ de háizi.) → This sounds like your child is currently being attacked.
  • *Correct:* 我要保护我的孩子。(Wǒ yào bǎohù wǒ de háizi.) → “I want to protect my child.”
• Using 防卫 for abstract “defense”: English speakers might try to use `防卫` for things like “defending a championship” or “defending a viewpoint.” This is usually incorrect.
  • *Incorrect:* 他需要防卫他的冠军头衔。(Tā xūyào fángwèi tā de guànjūn tóuxián.)
  • *Correct:* 他需要卫冕他的冠军头衔。(Tā xūyào wèimiǎn tā de guànjūn tóuxián.)
  • To “defend a viewpoint,” you would use words like `辩护 (biànhù)` or `维护 (wéihù)`.
• 防卫 (fángwèi) vs. 辩护 (biànhù) in court:
  • 防卫 refers to the overall concept of defense, including the physical act of self-defense that is being discussed in court.
  • 辩护 (biànhù) is the specific act of a lawyer arguing a case for the defendant in court. A lawyer `为 (wèi)` their client `辩护`.

• 正当防卫 (zhèngdāng fángwèi) - Justifiable self-defense. The most important phrase related to `防卫`.
• 保护 (bǎohù) - To protect. A broader, more general term that contrasts with the reactive nature of `防卫`.
• 防守 (fángshǒu) - To defend or guard. A close synonym, often used in sports (e.g., defense in basketball) and military tactics.
• 保卫 (bǎowèi) - To defend or safeguard. Carries a strong, often patriotic, connotation of protecting something sacred, like `保卫祖国` (defend the motherland).
• 防御 (fángyù) - Defense, to defend against. Often refers to a large-scale defensive system or capability, e.g., `导弹防御系统` (missile defense system).
• 辩护 (biànhù) - To defend in a legal sense; to plead a case for someone.
• 自卫 (zìwèi) - Self-defense. A more direct and personal synonym for the act of defending oneself. `防卫` can be done on behalf of others or a nation, whereas `自卫` is strictly for oneself.
• 攻击 (gōngjī) - Attack, assault. The direct antonym of `防卫`.
• 国防 (guófáng) - National defense. The specific domain where `防卫` is a core principle at the state level.
• 反击 (fǎnjī) - To counter-attack, to fight back. Describes the action one might take as part of their `防卫`.