守卫

shǒuwèi: 守卫 - To Guard, To Defend, Stand Watch

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: shouwei, shǒu wèi, 守卫, how to say guard in Chinese, defend in Chinese, protect in Chinese, Chinese word for sentry, stand watch, 守衛 (traditional)
  • Summary: A comprehensive guide to the Chinese word shǒuwèi (守卫), which means to guard or to defend. This page explores its core meaning, character origins, and cultural significance. Learn how to use shǒuwèi in both literal contexts, like a soldier guarding a post, and metaphorical ones, like defending one's homeland or principles. With over 10 practical example sentences, this entry is perfect for beginners wanting to understand how to say “guard” in Chinese accurately.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): shǒu wèi
  • Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: To stand watch over and protect a place or person; a person who performs this duty (a guard or sentry).
  • In a Nutshell: Shǒuwèi evokes a sense of steadfast, vigilant protection. It's about holding a position and preventing intrusion or harm. Think of a castle guard on a watchtower or a sentry at a border crossing. The feeling is one of serious responsibility and static defense, holding the line rather than actively pursuing a threat.

Character Breakdown

  • 守 (shǒu): This character is composed of a “roof” radical (宀) over a character for “hand” or “inch” (寸). Pictorially, it represents a hand holding a weapon to guard a building or a specific spot. Its core meaning is to guard, to keep, or to observe (a rule or tradition).
  • 卫 (wèi): The ancient form of this character depicted a person walking around a designated area or boundary, like a patrol. It carries the meaning of protecting or guarding a perimeter.
  • Together, 守卫 (shǒuwèi) combines the idea of “guarding a fixed point” (守) with “protecting a perimeter” (卫), creating a strong and complete word for defending a location or entity.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Shǒuwèi is deeply rooted in China's long history of dynastic rule, walled cities, and border defense. The image of soldiers diligently guarding (守卫) the Great Wall (长城 Chángchéng) is an iconic symbol of Chinese perseverance and national protection. The term carries a weight of duty, loyalty, and often, self-sacrifice.
  • Comparison to “Guard”: In English, “guard” can be very broad. A security guard at a mall, a lifeguard at a pool, and a royal guard at a palace are all “guards.” Chinese is often more specific. While shǒuwèi can be used for a general guard, it often has a more formal and serious tone than the modern term for a security guard, 保安 (bǎo'ān). Shǒuwèi is more fitting for military, national, or otherwise significant posts. It implies defending against a potential enemy or threat, whereas a 保安 (bǎo'ān) is more focused on maintaining order and safety.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • As a Verb (to guard): This is its most common usage. It's used in formal, official, or serious contexts.
    • Guarding a physical place: 士兵们守卫着边境。 (The soldiers guard the border.)
    • Guarding something abstract: 我们要守卫国家的和平。 (We must defend our country's peace.)
  • As a Noun (a guard/sentry): It can also refer to the person performing the action.
    • 他是一名忠诚的守卫。 (He is a loyal guard.)
  • Formality: Shǒuwèi is a neutral-to-formal word. For casual situations, like “Can you watch my bag?”, you would never use shǒuwèi. Instead, you would say 帮我看一下 (bāng wǒ kàn yīxià), which literally means “help me watch for a moment.” Using shǒuwèi in such a context would sound overly dramatic and strange.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 士兵们日夜守卫着国家的边境。
    • Pinyin: Shìbīngmen rìyè shǒuwèi zhe guójiā de biānjìng.
    • English: The soldiers guard the country's border day and night.
    • Analysis: This is a classic, literal use of shǒuwèi in a military and patriotic context. The phrase 日夜 (rìyè - day and night) emphasizes their constant vigilance.
  • Example 2:
    • 他是皇宫门口的一名守卫。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì huánggōng ménkǒu de yī míng shǒuwèi.
    • English: He is a guard at the gate of the imperial palace.
    • Analysis: Here, shǒuwèi is used as a noun to refer to the person, the guard. This is a common and straightforward usage.
  • Example 3:
    • 我们的任务是守卫这座重要的桥梁。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen de rènwù shì shǒuwèi zhè zuò zhòngyào de qiáoliáng.
    • English: Our mission is to guard this important bridge.
    • Analysis: This sentence highlights the sense of duty and responsibility associated with shǒuwèi.
  • Example 4:
    • 即使在最困难的时候，我们也要守卫自己的梦想。
    • Pinyin: Jíshǐ zài zuì kùnnán de shíhòu, wǒmen yě yào shǒuwèi zìjǐ de mèngxiǎng.
    • English: Even in the most difficult times, we must defend our own dreams.
    • Analysis: A powerful metaphorical use. It frames “dreams” as something precious that needs active protection from hardship or doubt.
  • Example 5:
    • 这只忠诚的狗守卫着主人的家。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhī zhōngchéng de gǒu shǒuwèi zhe zhǔrén de jiā.
    • English: This loyal dog guards its owner's home.
    • Analysis: This example extends the use of shǒuwèi to an animal, emphasizing its loyalty and protective nature.
  • Example 6:
    • 防火墙像一个网络守卫，保护电脑不受病毒侵害。
    • Pinyin: Fánghuǒqiáng xiàng yīgè wǎngluò shǒuwèi, bǎohù diànnǎo bù shòu bìngdú qīnhài.
    • English: A firewall is like a network guard, protecting the computer from virus attacks.
    • Analysis: A modern, technological metaphor. Here, shǒuwèi is a noun describing the function of a firewall.
  • Example 7:
    • 捍卫言论自由，就是守卫社会的基石。
    • Pinyin: Hànwèi yánlùn zìyóu, jiùshì shǒuwèi shèhuì de jīshí.
    • English: To defend the freedom of speech is to guard the cornerstone of society.
    • Analysis: This is a highly abstract and philosophical use of shǒuwèi, showing its application to core principles and values.
  • Example 8:
    • 每个公民都有责任守卫国家的荣誉。
    • Pinyin: Měi gè gōngmín dōu yǒu zérèn shǒuwèi guójiā de róngyù.
    • English: Every citizen has a responsibility to defend the nation's honor.
    • Analysis: This connects shǒuwèi to civic duty and intangible concepts like “honor” (荣誉 róngyù).
  • Example 9:
    • 夜深了，只有一名守卫还在城堡上巡逻。
    • Pinyin: Yè shēn le, zhǐyǒu yī míng shǒuwèi hái zài chéngbǎo shàng xúnluó.
    • English: The night was deep, and only one guard was still patrolling on the castle walls.
    • Analysis: A narrative or descriptive use, painting a picture. Note the distinction from 巡逻 (xúnluó - to patrol), which is the action the shǒuwèi (guard) is performing.
  • Example 10:
    • 我们必须守卫好我们的文化遗产。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū shǒuwèi hǎo wǒmen de wénhuà yíchǎn.
    • English: We must properly guard our cultural heritage.
    • Analysis: This shows the resultative complement “好” (hǎo) used with shǒuwèi, meaning to “guard well” or “do a good job of guarding.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 守卫 (shǒuwèi) vs. 保护 (bǎohù): This is a critical distinction.
    • 守卫 (shǒuwèi) implies static defense of a specific place, post, or principle. It is about preventing entry or attack. (e.g., 守卫城堡 - Guarding the castle).
    • 保护 (bǎohù) is a much broader term for “to protect.” It can be mobile and is about shielding someone or something from any kind of harm. (e.g., 保护环境 - Protecting the environment; 妈妈保护孩子 - A mother protects her child). You protect a child, but you guard a gate.
  • 守卫 (shǒuwèi) vs. 保安 (bǎo'ān):
    • 守卫 (shǒuwèi) is a more formal or traditional guard/sentry, often with military or state authority.
    • 保安 (bǎo'ān) is the modern, everyday word for a “security guard” you'd see at an office building, a shopping mall, or a residential community. Using shǒuwèi for a mall cop would sound strange.
  • Incorrect Usage (Casual Context):
    • Incorrect: 你能守卫我的包吗？ (Nǐ néng shǒuwèi wǒ de bāo ma?)
    • Why it's wrong: This sounds comically serious, as if your bag is a national treasure under threat of invasion.
    • Correct: 你能帮我看一下我的包吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ kàn yīxià wǒ de bāo ma?) - “Can you help me watch my bag for a second?”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 保护 (bǎohù) - A broad term for “to protect.” Shǒuwèi is a specific type of bǎohù.
  • 保卫 (bǎowèi) - To defend (often with passion against an active threat), very close to shǒuwèi but perhaps more dynamic. Often used in patriotic slogans like “保卫祖国” (Defend the motherland).
  • 保安 (bǎo'ān) - The modern term for a private security guard.
  • 看守 (kānshǒu) - To watch over, to guard. Often implies a lower-intensity watch, or specifically guarding prisoners.
  • 防守 (fángshǒu) - To defend, especially in a military or sports context (e.g., a basketball team's defense). It focuses on the action of defense against an offense.
  • 捍卫 (hànwèi) - To vigorously defend or uphold, almost exclusively used for abstract concepts like rights, dignity, principles, or honor. It is more passionate than shǒuwèi.
  • 卫士 (wèishì) - A guard or defender. A more literary or formal noun than shǒuwèi.
  • 士兵 (shìbīng) - Soldier. A soldier is a person who often performs the action of shǒuwèi.