How to say "prevention" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 防止ぼうしnoun, noun (suffix), suru verb, transitive verbThe general word for preventing something undesirable from happening or spreading — accidents, crime, pollution, the spread of disease. It focuses on stopping the harmful thing itself.
- 予防よぼうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbPrevention in the sense of protective measures taken in advance, especially against illness and other harm — the word for prophylaxis and precaution, warding trouble off before it can occur.
- 阻止そしnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReally means blocking or obstructing something in progress — an attempt, an advance, an action — by active interference. For the general sense of prevention it is seldom the word you want.
- 防除ぼうじょnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA specialized term confined to agriculture: the prevention of plant disease and insect damage, pest control, and the extermination of harmful insects. Not a general-purpose word for prevention.
Use 防止 for stopping something undesirable from happening, 予防 for precautions taken in advance, especially against illness, 阻止 only for actively blocking an attempt in progress, and 防除 solely for plant disease and pest control.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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