The Meaning of mamoru [守る] In Japanese

守る
まもる
Romaji: mamoru N5

What does 守る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to protect, guard, keep safe, observe

Definition

守る means to protect or guard someone or something from harm, to keep safe, to defend against threat, to watch over and shield; it also extends to obeying rules or duties and preserving what one holds dear.

Type

verb (godan, ru-ending)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • protecting a person or place from physical harm or danger
  • guarding against loss, damage, or theft
  • keeping a commitment, promise, or duty; preserving safety or confidentiality
  • observing rules, laws, or social norms; adhering to guidelines
  • watching over someone or something to ensure their safety or well-being

Composition

  • 宀 roof: protection, shelter
  • 寸 inch: small measure, implying care and precision
  • the combination expresses protecting or guarding by providing shelter and careful oversight

Usage

守る is used across registers from everyday speech to formal writing, and covers physical protection, guardianship of people or property, and abstract duties such as following laws or keeping a promise; in casual use it describes looking after someone or maintaining safety, while in formal contexts it appears in policy or military language meaning to defend or safeguard.
💡 Tips
Think of a roof sheltering a small entity; this image helps recall that 守る is about protecting what is under one’s care.

Variations

  • to protect, guard; romaji: mamoru
  • to maintain or keep; romaji: tamotsu
  • to prevent or ward off; romaji: fusegu
  • to defend or guard (in a strategic or formal sense); romaji: shubi suru
  • antonym: to break a rule; romaji: yaburu

Example Phrases

  • 地域の風習を守るため、皆で話し合った。
    chiiki no fūshū o mamoru tame, mina de hanashiatta.
    We all discussed how to preserve the region’s customs.
    Lista:
    • 地域 (chiiki) – region
    • の (no) – possessive marker
    • 風習 (fūshū) – custom
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ため (tame) – for the purpose of
    • 皆 (mina) – everyone
    • で (de) – with / together
    • 話し合った (hanashiatta) – discussed
    「風習」 means a local custom; in this sentence it links with 地域 using の to form 地域の風習, and を marks the object of 守る.
  • 車は 徐行 して 子どもを 見守る。
    Kuruma wa jokou shite kodomo o mimamoru.
    The car slows down and watches over the child.
    Lista:
    • 車は (kuruma wa) – the car (topic)
    • 徐行 (jokou) – going slowly
    • して (shite) – and (do)
    • 子どもを (kodomo o) – the child (object)
    • 見守る (mimamoru) – watch over
    Here, 「徐行」 means ‘going slowly’ as a noun; it is connected to 見守る by して to describe performing the action.
  • 彼は誠実で、約束をきちんと守る人だ。
    Kare wa seijitsu de, yakusoku o kichinto mamoru hito da.
    He is a sincere person who keeps his promises properly.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 誠実で (seijitsu de) – sincere
    • 約束を (yakusoku o) – promises
    • きちんと (kichinto) – properly
    • 守る (mamoru) – keep
    • 人だ (hito da) – is a person
    In this sentence, 「誠実」 functions as a na-adjective meaning ‘sincere’; using 「誠実で」 links to the predicate, describing the subject as ‘being sincere’.
  • 今日は 河川の 水質を 守る ボランティア に 参加 してきました。
    Kyou wa kasen no suishitsu o mamoru borantia ni sanka shite kimashita.
    Today I joined a volunteer effort to protect river water quality.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (Kyou wa) – direct translation in en
    • 河川の (kasen no) – direct translation in en
    • 水質を (suishitsu o) – direct translation in en
    • 守る (mamoru) – direct translation in en
    • ボランティア (borantia) – direct translation in en
    • に (ni) – direct translation in en
    • 参加 (sanka) – direct translation in en
    • してきました (shite kimashita) – direct translation in en
    「河川」は川を指すフォーマルな語で、河川の水質を守るのに使います。
  • 私の食事の法則を今日も守る。
    Watashi no shokuji no hōsoku o kyō mo mamoru.
    I keep following my meal rules today as well.
    Lista:
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 食事の (shokuji no) – meal’s
    • 法則を (hōsoku o) – rule
    • 今日も (kyō mo) – today as well
    • 守る (mamoru) – to keep
    The noun 「法則」 means a general rule; here it is the object of 守る and is modified by 食事の to form ‘the meal rules’.
守る