守る・護る|まもるmamoru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. godan verb, transitive verbto protect; to guard; to defend
   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.
2. godan verb, transitive verbto keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe; to obey; to follow
   いったん約束やくそくしたのであれば、守まもらなければならない。↗

   Once you have made a promise, you must keep it.

• Synonym防護ぼうごWrittenProtection against hazards or disasters, as in 「防護服」, typical of technical and safety fields; 「守る」 is the everyday general word.
• Synonym防衛ぼうえいNeutralDefending against outside attack, often national defence, also defending a title: 「国を防衛する」「タイトル防衛」; 「守る」 is broader and more everyday.
• SynonymガードNeutralLoanword for guarding or a bodyguard; in speech often 「ガードが固い」 (hard to get close to).
• Synonym守備しゅびNeutralDefence in sports or military contexts, such as fielding in baseball; 「守る」 is broader.
• Synonym防御ぼうぎょNeutralResisting an opponent's attack, as in 「防御率」「防御力」; typical of combat and games.
• Synonym守護しゅごWrittenGuardianship, often with a sense of divine protection, as in 「守護神」; also a historical official title.
• Synonym警備けいびNeutralSecurity patrol and watch, as in 「警備員」, aimed at preventing incidents; 「守る」 is wider and can also mean keeping a promise.
• Synonym警護けいごWrittenGuarding a person or facility with active watchfulness, as in 「要人警護」; 「守る」 is wider and need not involve such measures.
• Synonym保護ほごNeutralProtection from harm, also rescue or custody, as in 「自然保護」「迷子の保護」.
• Synonym護衛ごえいWrittenEscorting by staying alongside, as with a convoy or bodyguard; 「守る」 need not involve going along.
• SynonymかばうNeutralShielding a person or a body part from harm: 「子供を庇う」「怪我した足を庇う」; it implies covering up only when shielding someone's faults.
• SynonymプロテクトNeutralLoanword for protection from harm, also copy or write protection in software; 「守る」 can also mean keeping promises or rules.
• Synonym防備ぼうびWrittenPreparations against enemies or disasters, as in 「無防備」 (defenceless), stressing defences put in place beforehand.
• Related警戒けいかいNeutralBeing on guard against danger, as in 「警戒態勢」; about vigilance rather than holding something safe.
• Related遵守じゅんしゅWrittenComplying with laws and rules, as in 「法令遵守」; in daily speech 「守る」 also covers keeping promises and rules.
• Related防ぐふせぐNeutralPreventing or fending off something bad, as in 「事故を防ぐ」; 「守る」 focuses on shielding what is protected from harm.
• Related見守るみまもるNeutralWatching over someone to see they are safe, or watching how things unfold; 「守る」 means actively blocking harm.
• Related用心ようじんNeutralTaking care and staying alert, as in 「火の用心」; 「守る」 focuses on protecting something and can also mean keeping a promise.
• Related維持いじNeutralMaintaining a level or state, as in 「健康維持」; 「守る」 stresses not letting it be damaged.
• Related保持ほじWrittenHolding or keeping something over time, as in 「記録保持者」, more written; 「守る」 stresses preventing damage and can mean keeping a promise.
• Related保つたもつNeutralKeeping a state unchanged, as in 「若さを保つ」; 「守る」 stresses defending against harm from outside.
• Antonym攻めるせめるNeutralAntonym: to attack, as in 「攻めと守り」; opposed to 「守る」 as attack versus defence in fights and games.
• Antonym破るやぶるNeutralThe 「破る」 listed here is a variant of 「割る（わる）」 (split, break) and is not opposed to 「守る」; the true opposite is 「破る」 read 「やぶる」, as in 「約束を破る」.

Use 「守る」 for protecting people or things from harm and for keeping promises. For defence in sport say 「守備」 or 「防御」; for security work, 「警備」; for obeying laws, 「遵守」; for preventing something bad, 「防ぐ」.

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

1. 害がいが及およばないように防ふせぐ。
2. 維持いじする。大事だいじにとっておく。
3. きまりや規則きそくに従したがう。
4. 敵てきの攻撃こうげきに備そなえる。守備しゅび要員よういんとして守備しゅびにつく。敵てきの攻撃こうげきをふせぐ、しのぎきる。
5. 見守みまもる。
6. 状況じょうきょうや様子ようすを見定みさだめる。
7. 大事だいじにする。世話せわをする。