1.
defensive; protective; aimed at defending or preserving
Describes an attitude, action, strategy, or posture that is oriented toward defense rather than offense. Used both literally (military, security) and figuratively (psychology, business, sports tactics, debate), often with a mildly critical nuance when it implies being overly cautious or unwilling to take risks.
彼は防衛的な態度を取った。
He took a defensive attitude.
防衛的な戦略に切り替える。
They switch to a defensive strategy.
批判されると彼はすぐに防衛的になり、相手の話を冷静に聞けなくなる。
When criticized, he quickly becomes defensive and can no longer calmly listen to the other person.
Compound of 防衛 ('defense') and the adjectival suffix 〜的 ('-ish; -like; of the nature of'), which turns nouns into な-adjectives. 防衛的 therefore means 'of a defensive nature'.
USAGE:
- Applies both to physical defense (military, security, sports) and to psychological or social stance (emotional reactions, communication style, corporate policy).
- When describing a person, it often carries a mildly negative nuance: 'overly defensive; unwilling to accept criticism'.
- Frequently used in the adverbial form 防衛的に and as the predicate 防衛的になる ('to become defensive').
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 防衛的な態度: a defensive attitude
- 防衛的な姿勢: a defensive posture
- 防衛的な戦略: a defensive strategy
- 防衛的になる: to become defensive
- 防衛的に反応する: to react defensively
- 防衛的な発言: a defensive remark
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 守勢: defensive position — a noun describing the state of being on the defensive, often in warfare or sports.
- 消極的: passive; reluctant — broader term for being unwilling to take initiative, without the specific 'protecting oneself' nuance.
- 攻撃的: aggressive; offensive — the direct antonym.
- 保守的: conservative — oriented toward preserving the status quo; overlaps with 防衛的 in the sense of 'protecting what one has', but focuses on resistance to change.