hànwèi: 捍卫 - Defend, Uphold, Safeguard

hànwèi: 捍卫 - Defend, Uphold, Safeguard

Quick Summary

Keywords: hànwèi, 捍卫, defend in Chinese, uphold, safeguard, protect rights, Chinese word for defend, defend honor, defend country, what does hanwei mean, HSK 6 vocabulary
Summary: Learn the powerful Chinese verb 捍卫 (hànwèi), which means to defend, uphold, or safeguard something of great importance. Unlike the general word for “protect,” `hànwèi` is used in formal and serious contexts to describe the active defense of abstract principles like rights, honor, national sovereignty, and dignity. This page will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and provide practical examples for learners.

Core Meaning

Pinyin (with tone marks): hànwèi
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: To actively defend, uphold, or safeguard something important against threats, often an abstract concept.
In a Nutshell: Think of `hànwèi` as “to make a stand for.” It's not just about simple protection; it implies a righteous struggle to guard something precious and often intangible. You `hànwèi` your country's borders, your personal dignity, or the freedom of speech. The word carries a heavy, formal, and noble tone.

Character Breakdown

捍 (hàn): This character is composed of the “hand” radical (扌) on the left and a phonetic component (干 gān) on the right. The hand radical signifies an action done with the hands. Thus, `捍` means to ward off, to resist, or to defend against an attack, as if you are physically pushing a threat away.
卫 (wèi): This character is a pictogram that originally depicted a guard patrolling a perimeter or boundary. It inherently means to guard, to protect, or to escort. It is the same character in `卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)`, a “hygiene/protection room” (washroom).
Combined Meaning: When you combine `捍` (to ward off) and `卫` (to guard), you get a strong, formal term. It means to both resist incoming threats and protect what is valuable. This dual action makes `hànwèi` more powerful and resolute than simpler words for “protect”.

Cultural Context and Significance

Upholding National and Personal Honor: `捍卫` is deeply connected to concepts of national sovereignty (主权 zhǔquán) and personal dignity (尊严 zūnyán). In Chinese culture, both are of paramount importance. News reports and government statements frequently use `hànwèi` to describe actions taken to protect China's territorial integrity or national interests. On a personal level, to `hànwèi` one's reputation (名誉 míngyù) is to engage in a serious defense of one's character.
Comparison with “Defend”: In English, you can “defend” a soccer goal, “defend” a controversial opinion at a dinner party, or “defend” your thesis. The word is versatile. `捍卫` is not. You would never use `hànwèi` for a sports game or a casual argument. It is reserved for high-stakes situations where fundamental principles, rights, or deeply held values are under threat. Using `hànwèi` elevates the context, signaling that the issue is a matter of moral or existential importance. It implies a righteous cause.

Practical Usage in Modern China

Formal and Official Language: This is the primary domain of `hànwèi`. You will see it constantly in political speeches, legal documents, diplomatic statements, and news headlines. It's a word of conviction and authority.
- Example: 坚决捍卫国家主权和领土完整。 (Resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.)
Serious Personal Situations: While formal, it can be used in personal contexts to add weight and seriousness. If someone is falsely accused of a crime, they might declare their intention to `hànwèi` their innocence and reputation.
- Example: 我要用法律来捍卫我的权利。 (I will use the law to defend my rights.)
Connotation: The connotation of `hànwèi` is overwhelmingly positive and righteous. The person or entity doing the “defending” is positioned as the protagonist, standing up for what is right against an unjust force.

Example Sentences

Example 1:
- 士兵们发誓要捍卫国家的每一寸土地。
- Pinyin: Shìbīngmen fāshì yào hànwèi guójiā de měi yí cùn tǔdì.
- English: The soldiers swore to defend every inch of the country's land.
- Analysis: This is a classic, patriotic use of `hànwèi`, referring to the physical defense of national territory. The tone is very formal and resolute.
Example 2:
- 作为记者，他有责任捍卫新闻自由。
- Pinyin: Zuòwéi jìzhě, tā yǒu zérèn hànwèi xīnwén zìyóu.
- English: As a journalist, he has a responsibility to uphold the freedom of the press.
- Analysis: Here, `hànwèi` is used to defend an abstract principle (新闻自由 - freedom of the press). It implies an active struggle against censorship or control.
Example 3:
- 她勇敢地站出来，捍卫自己的尊严。
- Pinyin: Tā yǒnggǎn de zhàn chūlái, hànwèi zìjǐ de zūnyán.
- English: She bravely stood up to defend her own dignity.
- Analysis: This shows `hànwèi` in a personal but very serious context. `尊严 (zūnyán)` is a core concept that is considered worth defending forcefully.
Example 4:
- 我们必须捍卫我们辛勤劳动的成果。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū hànwèi wǒmen xīnqín láodòng de chéngguǒ.
- English: We must safeguard the fruits of our hard work.
- Analysis: This example shows `hànwèi` applied to something earned (`成果` - results, fruits). It implies that someone might be trying to unfairly take or devalue it.
Example 5:
- 律师的职责是捍卫客户的合法权益。
- Pinyin: Lǜshī de zhízé shì hànwèi kèhù de héfǎ quányì.
- English: A lawyer's duty is to defend the legal rights and interests of their client.
- Analysis: This is a standard use in a legal context. `权益 (quányì)` (rights and interests) is a formal term that pairs perfectly with `hànwèi`.
Example 6:
- 环保主义者毕生致力于捍卫地球的生态平衡。
- Pinyin: Huánbǎo zhǔyì zhě bìshēng zhìlì yú hànwèi dìqiú de shēngtài pínghéng.
- English: Environmentalists dedicate their lives to safeguarding the planet's ecological balance.
- Analysis: This demonstrates how `hànwèi` can be used for a noble cause or belief system, in this case, environmentalism.
Example 7:
- 面对质疑，科学家们捍卫了他们的研究结论。
- Pinyin: Miànduì zhìyí, kēxuéjiāmen hànwèi le tāmen de yánjiū jiélùn.
- English: Faced with skepticism, the scientists defended their research conclusions.
- Analysis: This shows the defense of an idea or finding. It implies the defense was robust and based on principles (of science), not just a casual disagreement.
Example 8:
- 人民英雄纪念碑是为了纪念那些为捍卫民族独立而牺牲的人。
- Pinyin: Rénmín Yīngxióng Jìniànbēi shì wèile jìniàn nàxiē wèi hànwèi mínzú dúlì ér xīshēng de rén.
- English: The Monument to the People's Heroes is to commemorate those who sacrificed themselves to defend national independence.
- Analysis: A very formal and historical context. `捍卫` here is tied to the ultimate sacrifice for a nation's freedom.
Example 9:
- 公司的声誉受到了威胁，管理层必须立即采取行动来捍卫它。
- Pinyin: Gōngsī de shēngyù shòudào le wēixié, guǎnlǐcéng bìxū lìjí cǎiqǔ xíngdòng lái hànwèi tā.
- English: The company's reputation has been threatened, and management must take immediate action to defend it.
- Analysis: An example from the business world, but note that it's used for something intangible and crucial: reputation (`声誉 shēngyù`).
Example 10:
- 他认为捍卫传统文化是每个人的责任。
- Pinyin: Tā rènwéi hànwèi chuántǒng wénhuà shì měi ge rén de zérèn.
- English: He believes that upholding traditional culture is everyone's responsibility.
- Analysis: Here, `hànwèi` is used for preserving culture, framing it as an active defense against the erosion of time or foreign influence.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

`捍卫 (hànwèi)` vs. `保护 (bǎohù)`: This is the most common point of confusion.
- `保护 (bǎohù)` is the general, all-purpose word for “protect.” You protect your skin from the sun (`保护皮肤`), protect children (`保护孩子`), and protect the environment (`保护环境`). It can be used in almost any situation.
- `捍卫 (hànwèi)` is for defending against a specific threat to a high-level concept. It is formal and implies a struggle.
- Incorrect Usage: 我要捍卫我的手机不被雨淋湿。 (Wǒ yào hànwèi wǒ de shǒujī bú bèi yǔ lín shī.) → This is wrong. It's not a noble struggle.
- Correct Usage: 我要保护我的手机不被雨淋湿。 (Wǒ yào bǎohù wǒ de shǒujī bú bèi yǔ lín shī.)
`捍卫 (hànwèi)` vs. `保卫 (bǎowèi)`: These are very close, but have a subtle difference.
- `保卫 (bǎowèi)` leans more towards the physical, often military, defense of a specific place. You `保卫` a city (保卫城市), a border (保卫边疆), or the motherland (保卫祖国).
- `捍卫 (hànwèi)` can be used for places too, but it excels at defending abstract concepts: rights, dignity, honor, principles, etc. You are more likely to `捍卫权利` (defend rights) than to `保卫权利`.

Related Terms and Concepts

保护 (bǎohù) - The general, everyday word for “to protect.” Much broader and less formal than `hànwèi`.
保卫 (bǎowèi) - A close synonym, but tends to refer more to the physical or military defense of a location.
维护 (wéihù) - To maintain or uphold. This word focuses on preserving an existing good state (like peace, order, or a system) rather than actively fighting a threat.
守护 (shǒuhù) - To guard or watch over. Carries a more personal, devoted, and sometimes poetic connotation. You might `守护` a loved one or a dream.
防守 (fángshǒu) - To defend in the context of sports or military tactics (defense as opposed to offense).
主权 (zhǔquán) - Sovereignty. A core concept that is often the object of `hànwèi`.
尊严 (zūnyán) - Dignity. A personal attribute that one can `hànwèi`.
权利 (quánlì) - Rights. Something that is frequently defended using `hànwèi`, especially in legal or political contexts.
名誉 (míngyù) - Reputation or honor. Another abstract concept that one would `hànwèi`.

Table of Contents

hànwèi: 捍卫 - Defend, Uphold, Safeguard

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

Practical Usage in Modern China

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

Related Terms and Concepts