衛: the kanji for defend; protect
衛 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means defend; protect. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
衛 is written in 16 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
衛 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
エイ (ei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 衛生えいせい · eisei | hygiene |
| 衛星えいせい · eisei | satellite |
| 護衛ごえい · goei | escort; guard |
| 守衛しゅえい · shuei | security guard |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 台所は衛生に気をつけよう。Daidokoro wa eisei ni ki o tsukeyō.Let's keep the kitchen hygienic.
- 人工衛星から地球の写真が届いた。Jinkō eisei kara chikyū no shashin ga todoita.Photos of the earth arrived from a satellite.
- 大統領には護衛がついている。Daitōryō ni wa goei ga tsuite iru.The president has bodyguards.
- 守衛さんに入館証を見せた。Shueisan ni nyūkanshō o miseta.I showed my pass to the security guard.
- 月は地球の衛星だ。Tsuki wa chikyū no eisei da.The moon is the earth's satellite.
Questions about 衛
How many strokes does 衛 have?
衛 is written in 16 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 衛?
The on readings are ei (エイ). 衛 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 衛?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Government, rules and society
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 衛
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.