预防
yūfáng · HSK 3
prevent
🛡️ 预 (in advance) + 防 (defend) = defend in advance, i.e. prevent
预 carries the sense of 'beforehand' (as in 预报 forecast, 预习 preview), and 防 means 'guard/defend' (as in 防火 fireproof). Together: guard against something before it happens.
防 — mound radical 阝(阜) + 方 fāng (phonetic)
防 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left element 阝 (from 阜) depicts a mound or earthen embankment, suggesting barriers and defense. The right element 方 supplies the sound. Together they evoke a dike or rampart that guards against floods or attacks, hence 'to guard, prevent, defend'.