Word
庇う
Meaning in Englishto protect someone, to cover up for someone
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
庇う means to shield or protect someone from harm or blame, to shelter under someone’s protection, or to make excuses for someone.
Main meanings
- physical shielding or sheltering from harm, rain, or danger
- defending or advocating for someone, especially against criticism
- excusing or rationalizing another's fault by masking their wrongdoing
- being sheltered under someone’s protection or authority in a figurative sense
How to use it
Used as a transitive verb with を to mark the direct object; common in both casual conversation and formal writing. Typical patterns include 人を庇う, 彼を庇う, describing physical shielding or defending someone from blame; can also express protecting someone under one’s authority in a metaphorical sense.
Variants and close terms
- かばう (to shield) — kabau
- 守る (to protect) — mamoru
- 庇護する (to shelter/defend) — higo suru
Composition
- 庇: shelter, overhang; conveys the sense of guarding or covering
- う: standard verb ending for a godan verb
Etymology
庇 kabau The word uses the kanji 庇 with kun'yomi かばう; phonetic continuity is preserved in Modern Japanese; no loanword influence.
Word class
Verb (godan)