Correct

保护 vs 维护

/ bǎohù vs wéihù /
Strokes

Definition

保护 and 维护 both are Verb, which means [defend; protect; uphold].

Example

保护 and 维护, both verbs mean "to take protective action or safeguard".
1) The former is more concrete and the latter is more formal and can be applied to more important abstract things. One can say: 受……保护 (under the protection of)but 维护 cannot be used in this way.

2) In all these concrete cases, 保护 is used, but not 维护.
1
Yángguāng
阳光
hěn
yǎn
刺眼
  
,
dài
shang
jìng
墨镜
biàn
以便
bǎo
保护
yǎnjing
眼睛
  

The sunshine was so dazzling that he wore dark sunglasses to protect his eyes.

2
Gōngmín
公民
de
shēngmìng
生命
  
cáichǎn
财产
shòudào
受到
法律
de
bǎo
保护
  

The life and property of citizens are protected by law.

3
Chēhuò
车祸
shēng
发生
hòu
  
,
yào
bǎo
保护
hǎo
xiànchǎng
现场
  

Don't spoil the spot when traffic accidents take place.

维护 is usually used in an abstract sense.

4
guó
各国
dōu
yǒu
wéi
维护
guó
国际
píng
和平
de
义务
  

All nations are responsible for the maintaining of the world peace.

5
men
我们
yào
wéi
维护
法律
de
zūnyán
尊严
  

We should stand up for the dignity of the law.

维护 also means "to withhold existing state".
6
Wéi
维护
shèhuì
社会
de
zhèngcháng
正常
zhì
秩序
shì
gōngān
公安
mén
部门
de
shénshèng
神圣
zhí
职责
  

To maintain public orders is the holy responsibility of the public security departments.

Sometimes, for things that can be both abstract and concrete, either 保护 or 维护 can be used.
7
Měi
每个
gōngmín
公民
dōu
yìng
bǎo
保护
  
(
wéi
维护
  
)
自己
de
zhèngdāng
正当
quán
权益
  

Every citizen should safeguard his or her own just rights and interests.