防ぐ・禦ぐ・拒ぐ|ふせぐfusegu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
防ぐ防ぐ（ふせぐ） is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners; use it when writing this word.
禦ぐ禦ぐ（ふせぐ） is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it; it is not the form to choose by default.
拒ぐ拒ぐ（ふせぐ） is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it; it is not the form to choose by default.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto defend against; to protect against
- godan verb, transitive verbto prevent; to avert; to avoid
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 防ぐ（ふせぐ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 防ぎます（ふせぎます） |
| Negative (nai) | 防がない（ふせがない） |
| polite (masen) | 防ぎません（ふせぎません） |
| classical zu / nu | 防がず・防がぬ（ふせがず・ふせがぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 防いだ（ふせいだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 防ぎました（ふせぎました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 防がなかった（ふせがなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 防ぎませんでした（ふせぎませんでした） |
| Te form | 防いで（ふせいで） |
| Potential | 防げる（ふせげる） |
| Passive | 防がれる（ふせがれる） |
| Causative | 防がせる（ふせがせる） |
| Causative passive | 防がせられる・防がされる（ふせがせられる・ふせがされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 防げば（ふせげば） |
| tara | 防いだら（ふせいだら） |
| Volitional | 防ごう（ふせごう） |
| polite (mashou) | 防ぎましょう（ふせぎましょう） |
| Imperative | 防げ（ふせげ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym防御ぼうぎょWrittenWritten/formal prose. Defending against an enemy's attack, as in 「防御態勢」; mostly military and sports contexts.
- Synonym防衛ぼうえいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Defending or protecting something, as in 「国を防衛する」「タイトル防衛」「正当防衛」.
- Synonym防護ぼうごWrittenWritten/formal prose. Protecting people and facilities from harm or disaster, as in 「防護服」; the focus is on physical safety.
- Synonym阻止そしNeutralStopping someone's action, as in 「侵入を阻止する」; the emphasis is on blocking what the other side is doing.
- Synonym防遏ぼうあつWrittenRare written/formal word for preventing or checking something; in everyday speech use 「防止」 instead.
- Related阻害そがいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Hindering or obstructing something, as in 「成長を阻害する」; mostly in formal documents.
- Related守るまもるNeutralProtecting or guarding something, and also keeping rules or promises, as in 「約束を守る」; 「防ぐ」 focuses on keeping bad things out.
- Related押さえるおさえるNeutralPressing or holding something down, or keeping it under control, as in 「傷口を押さえる」; 「防ぐ」 is about keeping bad things from happening.
- Related阻むはばむWrittenWritten/formal prose. Blocking someone's advance or action, as in 「行く手を阻む」; typically the object is a person's movement.
- Related邪魔じゃまNeutralGetting in the way or being a nuisance, as in 「邪魔になる」, with a negative nuance; 「防ぐ」 is positive prevention.
- Related封じるふうじるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Sealing or blocking something so it cannot act, as in 「口を封じる」「動きを封じる」.
- Related妨げるさまたげるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Hindering or obstructing, as in 「睡眠を妨げる」; usually said of processes and activities.
- Related保護ほごNeutralProtecting the weak, nature and the like, as in 「自然保護」; the emphasis is on looking after something.
- Related禁止きんしNeutralProhibiting an action by rule, as in 「駐車禁止」; it restrains people through rules.
- Related守備しゅびNeutralDefending a position, mostly in sports and military contexts, as in 「守備につく」.
- Related禁じるきんじるWrittenWritten/formal verb for forbidding or suppressing, as in 「笑いを禁じ得ない」 (unable to suppress laughter).
- Related守護しゅごWrittenWritten/formal prose. Guarding or watching over, as in 「守護神」; carries a sacred, solemn nuance.
- Related禁ずるきんずるFormalA more formal variant of 「禁じる」, used mainly in laws and official documents.
- Related留めるとどめるNeutralStopping something or confining it within limits, as in 「被害を最小限にとどめる」.
- RelatedガードNeutralLoanword for guarding or defending, as in 「ガードが固い」; mostly sports and colloquial use.
- Related押しとどめるおしとどめるNeutralPhysically holding someone back, as in 「群衆を押しとどめる」; the emphasis is on stopping them on the spot.
- Related差し止めるさしとめるWrittenOrdering a halt to something, as in 「出版を差し止める」; mostly legal and administrative contexts.
- Antonym許すゆるすNeutralAntonym. Permitting or forgiving; the opposite of holding something back with 「防ぐ」.
- Antonym受け入れるうけいれるNeutralAntonym. Accepting or taking in; opposite to 「防ぐ」 only in the sense of keeping outsiders away.
Use 「防ぐ」 to hold off an attack or keep something bad from happening. To guard something, use 「守る」; to block someone's action, 「阻止」 or 「阻む」; to hinder a process, 「妨げる」; to ban by rule, 「禁止」; for military defense, 「防御」 or 「防衛」. The opposite of 「防ぐ」 is 「許す」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
