预防 (yùfáng)

预防 means to prevent or take precautionary measures against something undesirable, especially illness or disaster. It is widely used in public health and safety contexts.

Meanings

[verb] to prevent; to take precautions against
[noun] prevention; precautionary measures

Example Sentences

洗手是预防传染病最有效的方法之一。 Xǐshǒu shì yùfáng chuánrǎnbìng zuì yǒuxiào de fāngfǎ zhī yī. Washing hands is one of the most effective methods of preventing infectious diseases.

政府采取了多种措施来预防流感的传播。 Zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ le duō zhǒng cuòshī lái yùfáng liúgǎn de chuánbō. The government took various measures to prevent the spread of influenza.

预防疾病比治疗疾病更经济、更有效。 Yùfáng jíbìng bǐ zhìliáo jíbìng gèng jīngjì, gèng yǒuxiào. Preventing disease is more economical and effective than treating it.

打疫苗是预防很多传染病的好方法。 Dǎ yìmiáo shì yùfáng hěn duō chuánrǎnbìng de hǎo fāngfǎ. Getting vaccinated is a good way to prevent many infectious diseases.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
预防疾病	to prevent disease
预防措施	preventive measures
预防为主	prevention first
预防传染	to prevent infection

Usage Notes

预防 functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it is typically followed by the thing being prevented: 预防感冒 (prevent a cold), 预防事故 (prevent accidents). The phrase 预防为主 (prevention first) is a key principle in Chinese public health policy. 预防 is more formal than 防止 (fángzhǐ), though both mean "to prevent" — 防止 is more common in everyday speech.

Memory Hook

预 (in advance) + 防 (to defend/guard) — prevention means "defending in advance" before a problem arises.