防 (fáng)

to protect; to defend; to guard against; to prevent

HSK 3.1 level 3
6 strokes

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 阝 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“防，隄也。从，方聲。埅，防或从土。”

Components

阝 (meaning) — 阝 is a component form of 阜.
方 (sound)