防 fáng — to protect; to defend; to guard (against)
天冷了要预防感冒。Tiān lěng le yào yù fáng gǎn mào.When it gets cold, prevent catching a cold.
Common words: 防止 (fáng zhǐ)、预防 (yù fáng)、消防 (xiāo fáng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "against"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "against", including 防 (fáng), 冲 (chōng / chòng), 靠 (kào). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "against" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 防 (fáng), 冲 (chōng / chòng), 靠 (kào) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span fáng, chōng, chòng, kào — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 防 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 防 fángto protect; to defend; to guard (against)Useful words: 防止, 预防
- 冲 chōng / chòngto rinse; to collide; to water; to rush; to dash (against); to wash outUseful words: 冲突, 冲动
- 靠 kàodepend upon; lean on; near; by; against; to supportUseful words: 可靠, 依靠
Common words for these 3 "against" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 防 (fáng) — so "against" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
防止fáng zhǐto prevent; to guard against; to take precautions预防yù fángto prevent; to take precautions against; to protect; to guard against消防xiāo fángfirefighting; fire control冲突chōng tūconflict; to conflict; clash of opposing forces; collision (of interests)冲动chōng dòngto have an urge; to be impetuous; impulse; urge冲击chōng jīto attack; to batter; (of waves) to pound against; shock可靠kě kàoreliable依靠yī kàoto rely on sth (for support etc); to depend on靠近kào jìnto be close to; to approach; to draw near
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "against".
冲 chōng / chòng — to rinse; to collide; to water; to rush; to dash (against); to wash out
他急急忙忙地冲出了教室。Tā jí jí máng máng de chōng chū le jiào shì.He rushed out of the classroom in a hurry.
Common words: 冲突 (chōng tū)、冲动 (chōng dòng)、冲击 (chōng jī)
靠 kào — depend upon; lean on; near; by; against; to support
累了就靠在椅子上休息一会儿。Lèi le jiù kào zài yǐ zi shàng xiū xi yí huìr.When you are tired, lean on the chair and rest a while.
Common words: 可靠 (kě kào)、依靠 (yī kào)、靠近 (kào jìn)
All 3 characters
Open 防、冲、靠 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.