Meaning
捍卫 means to defend or protect something important, typically abstract concepts like rights, dignity, principles, or territory. It carries a strong, resolute tone suggesting active protection against threats or challenges. This word is more formal and literary than everyday words like 保护.
Usage
捍卫 is commonly used in formal contexts, political discourse, news media, and speeches. It typically takes abstract objects like 权利 (rights), 尊严 (dignity), 和平 (peace), or 主权 (sovereignty). The tone is serious and often patriotic or principled.
Examples
- 01我们必须捍卫每个人的基本权利。.We must defend everyone's fundamental rights.
- 02这些士兵用生命捍卫了国家的主权和领土完整。.These soldiers defended the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity with their lives.
Characters
Common collocations
- 捍卫权利to defend rights
- 捍卫尊严to defend dignity
- 捍卫和平to defend peace
- 捍卫主权to defend sovereignty
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to protection. 捍 originally meant to shield or ward off with the hand (手 radical), while 卫 depicted guards walking around a perimeter. Together they create an emphatic term for active, principled defense.