Correct
掩护 vs 保护
/ yǎnhù vs bǎohù /
Strokes
Definition
Both 掩护 (yǎnhù) and 保护 (bǎohù) mean "to protect," but they are used in different contexts with different nuances. Here’s how to use them correctly:
1. 掩护 (yǎnhù) – "To Cover," "To Shield" (Military/Strategic Protection)
Usage:
1), Military/Strategic Context
- Used when someone actively hides or shields another person/group from danger (e.g., in battles, police operations).
- Often involves blocking visibility or providing a distraction.
Examples:
- 士兵们用烟雾弹掩护队友撤退。
(Shìbīngmen yòng yānwùdàn yǎnhù duìyǒu chètuì.)
→ "The soldiers used smoke grenades to cover their teammates' retreat." - 警察掩护人质逃离现场。
(Jǐngchá yǎnhù rénzhì táolí xiànchǎng.)
→ "The police shielded the hostages as they escaped the scene."
2), Figurative Use (Less Common)
- Can mean hiding the truth or providing an alibi.
Examples:
- 他撒谎是为了掩护他的朋友。
(Tā sāhuǎng shì wèile yǎnhù tā de péngyou.)
→ "He lied to cover for his friend."
Key Points:
✔ Active, strategic protection (like in war or police operations).
✔ Often involves hiding or blocking (e.g., smoke, barriers).
✔ Can also mean providing an alibi in non-military contexts.
2. 保护 (bǎohù) – "To Protect," "To Safeguard" (General Protection)
Usage:
1), General Protection from Harm
- Used for keeping someone/something safe from danger, damage, or harm.
- Can be physical or abstract (e.g., rights, environment).
Examples:
- 父母应该保护孩子的安全。
(Fùmǔ yīnggāi bǎohù háizi de ānquán.)
→ "Parents should protect their children's safety." - 法律保护公民的隐私权。
(Fǎlǜ bǎohù gōngmín de yǐnsī quán.)
→ "The law protects citizens' privacy rights."
2), Environmental/Technical Protection
- Used for protecting nature, data, devices, etc.
Examples:
- 我们必须保护环境。
(Wǒmen bìxū bǎohù huánjìng.)
→ "We must protect the environment." - 这个软件可以保护你的电脑不受病毒攻击。
(Zhè ge ruǎnjiàn kěyǐ bǎohù nǐ de diànnǎo bú shòu bìngdú gōngjī.)
→ "This software can protect your computer from viruses."
Key Points:
✔ General term for protection (physical, legal, environmental, etc.).
✔ Can be used in daily life, law, technology, and nature.
✔ Does not imply hiding or strategic blocking (unlike 掩护).
3. Key Differences
| Feature | 掩护 (yǎnhù) | 保护 (bǎohù) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | "To cover/shield" (active blocking) | "To protect/safeguard" (general safety) |
| Context | Military, police, strategic hiding | Daily life, law, environment, technology |
| Method | Uses barriers, smoke, distractions | Uses laws, care, safety measures |
| Example | "Soldiers cover teammates." | "Parents protect children." |
Final Summary
Use 掩护 (yǎnhù) for:
✔ Military/police actions (covering teammates).
✔ Hiding or providing an alibi.
Use 保护 (bǎohù) for:
✔ General safety (people, environment, rights).
✔ Legal/technical protection.
Example
掩护 means "to protect people or troops in secret by shielding".
1
Nǐ
你
dài
带
shāngyuán
伤员
xiān
先
zǒu
走
,
wǒ
我
yòng
用
jīqiāng
机枪
yǎnhù
掩护
nǐmen
你们
。
Take the wounded to a safe place first,and I will protect you with my gun.
2
Yīlián
一连
chètuì
撤退
,
èr
二
lián
连
yǎnhù
掩护
。
Company One retreat,Company Two will cover them.
保护 can be open protection, or protection in secret.
In examples ① and ②, if 掩护 is used to replace 保护, it means "to protect in secret".
3
Zài
在
díjī
敌机
hōngzhà
轰炸
zhōng
中
,
bānzhǎng
班长
yòng
用
shēntǐ
身体
bǎohù
保护
(
yǎnhù
掩护
)
le
了
wǒ
我
。
The squad leader shielded me with his body during the bombing.
4
Zài
在
Èr
二战
zhàn
中
,
zhōng
法国
fǎguó
抵抗
dǐkàng
运动
yùndòng
组织
zǔzhī
保护
(
bǎohù
掩护
)
yǎn
了
hù
英国
leyīngguó
飞行员
。
The French Resistance Organization protected the British pilots in the Second World War.
The object of 保护 can be things as well as human beings when the objects are things, it cannot be replaced by 掩护.
5
Guójiā
国家
yào
要
bǎohù
保护
fùnǚ
妇女
értóng
儿童
de
的
héfǎ
合法
quányì
权益
。
A country should safeguard the rightful rights of women and children.
6
Shìgù
事故
fāshēng
发生
hòu
后
,
yào
要
zhùyì
注意
bǎohù
保护
xiànchǎng
现场
。
When an accident takes place, we must try to keep intact the scene.
7
Bǎohù
保护
wénwù
文物
shì
是
měigè
每个
gōngmín
公民
de
的
zérèn
责任
。
Preservation of cultural relics is every citizen's duty.
Mistake
❌ Wrong:
警察保护罪犯逃跑。 (Use 掩护 for hiding/blocking in police actions.)
✅ Correct:
警察掩护罪犯逃跑。 (Jǐngchá yǎnhù zuìfàn táopǎo.)
→ "The police covered the criminal's escape." (Implies hiding/helping them flee.)
❌ Wrong:
军队掩护国家的安全。 (Use 保护 for general safety.)
✅ Correct:
军队保护国家的安全。 (Jūnduì bǎohù guójiā de ānquán.)
→ "The military protects the country's safety."
Exercise
Choose 掩护 or 保护:
- 士兵们用树木____自己不被发现。 (掩护 – "cover")
- 法律____消费者的权益。 (保护 – "protect")
- 他撒谎是为了____他的同伙。 (掩护 – "cover for")
Translate:
- "The bodyguard protected the celebrity from the crowd."
→ 保镖____明星不被人群伤害。 (保护) - "The spy used a fake identity to cover his mission."
→ 间谍用假身份____他的任务。 (掩护)