Definitions

1. Verb:
   • To prevent, to guard against: To take measures in advance to stop something undesirable from happening or to protect something from harm.
   • To preserve, to keep safe: To maintain something in its original or good condition, protecting it from damage or decay.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng ta cần phòng giữ căn bệnh lây lan. (We need to prevent the disease from spreading.)
  • Biện pháp này giúp phòng giữ hư hỏng cho máy móc. (This measure helps guard against damage to the machinery.)
  • Công thức đặc biệt để phòng giữ gỗ khỏi mối mọt. (A special formula to preserve wood from termites.)

Advanced Usage

• "phòng giữ cẩn thận": to guard carefully/preserve meticulously.
  • Bảo tàng phòng giữ cẩn thận những cổ vật quý giá. (The museum carefully preserves the valuable artifacts.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phòng ngừa (verb): to prevent, to take precautions. Often used interchangeably with 'phòng giữ' but can emphasize preemptive action.
  • Phòng ngừa cháy nổ là rất quan trọng. (Fire and explosion prevention is very important.)
• Bảo vệ (verb): to protect, to defend. Focuses more on active defense rather than preventive measures.
• Bảo quản (verb): to preserve, to maintain (often for objects, food). Focuses on keeping something in good condition over time.

Synonyms

• Ngăn ngừa: to prevent, to avert.
• Giữ gìn: to keep, to preserve (often for abstract things like traditions or health).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Phòng giữ bệnh tật: to prevent disease.
• Phòng giữ hư hỏng: to guard against damage.
• Phòng giữ an ninh: to maintain security (less common; 'bảo vệ an ninh' is more frequent).

1. Prevent, guard against