1.
to prevent beforehand; to nip in the bud; to stop before it happens
To take action to prevent a problem, accident, or negative event before it occurs. Emphasizes proactive prevention rather than reactive response.
事故を未然に防ぐ。
To prevent an accident before it happens.
犯罪を未然に防ぐことが大切だ。
It is important to prevent crime before it occurs.
定期的な点検によって、設備の故障を未然に防ぐことができる。
Regular inspections can prevent equipment breakdowns before they happen.
USAGE:
未然 means "before something happens" (literally "not yet so") and 防ぐ means "to prevent" or "to defend against." This is a common and important expression in formal contexts such as safety management, law enforcement, and risk management.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 事故を未然に防ぐ (to prevent accidents)
- 犯罪を未然に防ぐ (to prevent crime)
- 災害を未然に防ぐ (to prevent disasters)
- 被害を未然に防ぐ (to prevent damage)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 予防する: to prevent — more general term for prevention
- 食い止める: to hold back, to check — implies stopping something already in progress