予 防(よぼう)

よぼう

noun

prevention

See also: 予防(よぼう)する (verb form)

1. prevention, precaution

Action taken to stop something undesirable from happening, especially illness or accidents.

病気(びょうき)の予防(よぼう)には手洗(てあら)いが大切(たいせつ)だ。

Hand washing is important for disease prevention.

予防(よぼう)接種(せっしゅ)を受(う)けた。

I received a vaccination.

予防接種 = vaccination

火災(かさい)予防(よぼう)に努(つと)める。

To make efforts for fire prevention.

予防(よぼう) means taking action beforehand to prevent something undesirable — most commonly disease, but also fire, crime, and accidents. It functions as both a noun and a suru verb.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

予防(よぼう)接種(せっしゅ): vaccination
予防(よぼう)医学(いがく): preventive medicine
予防(よぼう)策(さく): preventive measures
予防(よぼう)注射(ちゅうしゃ): preventive injection
火災(かさい)予防(よぼう): fire prevention
犯罪(はんざい)予防(よぼう): crime prevention

COMMON PATTERNS:

予防(よぼう)する: to prevent, to take preventive measures
予防(よぼう)に努(つと)める: to make efforts at prevention

CONTRAST:
予防(よぼう) (prevention — before a problem occurs) vs 治療(ちりょう) (treatment — after a problem occurs). The Japanese proverb 予防(よぼう)は治療(ちりょう)に勝(まさ)る (prevention is better than cure) captures this contrast.

Related Words

Contrast: 治療(ちりょう) (treatment (after illness))

general

Added 2026.1.13 1:07 · Revised 2026.5.27 6:16

03500/03669_yobou