よけ

suffix

guard against; protection from; repellent

1. guard against; protection from; repellent

A suffix attached to nouns to indicate something that wards off or protects against the preceding noun. Derived from the verb 避(よ)ける (to avoid).

虫(むし)よけスプレー買(か)った。

I bought insect repellent spray.

日(ひ)よけの帽子(ぼうし)をかぶった。

I put on a sun hat.

窓(まど)に虫(むし)よけのネットを付(つ)けた。

I put an insect-repelling net on the window.

A productive suffix that attaches to nouns to form compounds meaning "something that wards off X." Comes from the verb 避(よ)ける. Usually written in kana when used as a suffix.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

虫(むし)よけ: insect repellent
日(ひ)よけ: sunshade; awning
魔(ま)よけ: charm against evil; amulet
厄(やく)よけ: protection from misfortune
雨(あめ)よけ: rain shelter
寒(さむ)さよけ: protection from the cold

NOTE:
When written with kanji, the form is 除(よ)け (e.g. 虫除(むしよ)け). The bare kana form よけ is more common in everyday writing.

general

Added 2026.6.6 12:06

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