To Guard

by Nao

mamo-ru, mori, syu, su

The verb mamoru is used in two ways. First, it means to guard, to protect, or to defend something from danger, harm, abuse, or attack. In this sense, we say, “… (ex. kōgeki = attack) kara mamoru.” The particle kara means from.

Second, it means to keep something such as the peace, the environment, the secret, the tradition, or promises. For this usage, we use the particle wo, and say, “… (ex. yakusoku = a promise) wo mamoru.” “Rūru wo mamoru” (To obey rules) can be, I think, considered as the same usage. Rūru is in katakana.

Let’s see a few compounds. Mori means to take care of somebody like usually a kid.  Komori means rearing a kid. Shishu means desperate defence. Adding the subsidiary verb –suru in hiragana, you can make verbs. Shishusuru means to defend to the death or to defend desperately.

1. Draw the dot on the top.
2. Draw the dot to the left.
3. Draw the hook.
4. Draw the horizontal line.
5. Draw the vertical stroke with an upward turn.
6. Draw the dot under the horizontal line.