守
Protect
| on’yomi | kun’yomi | Radicals |
|---|---|---|
| す | まも.る | 宀 + 寸 |
Meaning: Protect
You have to get the measurement of the helmet to make it fit your head. If it doesn’t fit properly, it can’t protect you properly.
Alternately, you can just put a measured helmet on, and go to battle, using it to protect you from all the enemies. Even better, imagine yourself naked except the helmet you have on. It’s your only protection.
Reading: す
The helmet you got for your head, though, did not protect. Imagine getting hit, and it splitting in half. In half a daze, the first thing you think is that you’re going to sue (す) the helmet company for their shoddy helmets.
Go ahead and imagine yourself in court, actually suing the helmet company. Listen to the proceedings, listen to the judge, and get a verdict. How did you fare? Did you get a lot of money for suing the helmet company, which was supposed to protect you?
Vocabulary
Were you able to sue them? Save that sue part for later, it’s kun’yomi time right now.
a 守る（まもる）＝ Protect, Defend
- Meaning: Same as this kanji, verb form
- Reading: Kun’yomi reading of the kanji. You have to remember the まも part. You’re protecting yourself from something – turns out, it’s a mammoth (まも). Can you protect yourself from a mammoth?
a お守り（おまもり）＝ Charm, Amulet
- Meaning: This is like the polite noun form of the kanji. The お makes it an honorific. So, think of a thing that protects you. This thing is a charm or amulet. Think about an RPG game, or something. For some reason charms and amulets protect you.
- Reading: The kun’yomi again – be sure to know the reading of 守る. If you do, you’ll know the reading of お守り as well.