How to say "guard" in Japanese

• 守るまもるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb: use this when 'guard' means to protect or defend someone or something and keep it safe from harm.
  あなたは、自分じぶんの家族かぞくを守まもらなければならない。↗

  You have to protect your family.
• ガードCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe katakana loanword for 'guarding': keeping your guard up in boxing and other sports, where 'guard' names a defensive stance or position.
• 護衛ごえいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbGuarding in the sense of escorting: a bodyguard protecting an important person, or ships traveling in convoy. It also corresponds to 'escort' and 'convoy'.
  彼かれは多数たすうの護衛ごえいを連つれて旅行りょこうした。↗

  He traveled with a large escort.
• 衛兵えいへいCommon
  nounA guard in the military sense: a soldier standing sentry duty. It also corresponds to 'sentinel' and 'garrison'.
• 番人ばんにんCommon
  nounA person who keeps watch over a place: someone guarding a building, gate, or grounds — the 'watchman' sense of 'guard'.
  中央ちゅうおう銀行ぎんこうに物価ぶっかの番人ばんにんだけさせておくのはもったいない。↗

  It's a waste to just have the central banks watching over commodity prices.

Use 「守る」 when 'guard' is a verb meaning to protect or defend; 「ガード」 for the loanword 'guarding' as in sports; 護衛 for escorting a person or convoy; 衛兵 for a soldier on sentry duty; 番人 for a watchman.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 守るまもるto protect
• ガードguarding
• 護衛ごえいguard
• 衛兵えいへいguard
• 番人ばんにんguard
• 警備けいびdefense
• 見張りみはりwatch
• 防具ぼうぐguard
• プロテクターprotector (e.g. chest)
• 鍔つばguard (on a sword)
• 警防けいぼうguard
• 番衆ばんしゅうguard (of a daimyo, emperor, etc.)
• 警衛けいえいguard
• 警手けいしゅguard
• 見張り番みはりばんguard
• 警備員けいびいんguard
• 警備兵けいびへいguard (soldier)
• 護拳ごけんguard (of a sword)
• 番兵ばんぺいsentry
• 随身ずいじんbodyguard (of a noble or high-ranking official)
• 番卒ばんそつsentry
• 警戒ぶりけいかいぶりguarding
• 戍卒じゅそつgarrison
• 守衛しゅえい(security) guard
• 用心棒ようじんぼうbodyguard
• 番ばんwatch
• 警固けいごguard
• ウォッチドッグwatchman
• あてpad
• 抑えおさえdefense