The Meaning of mamoru [守る] In Japanese

守る
まもる
Romaji: mamoru N5

What does 守る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to protect, guard, keep safe, observe

Definition

守る means to protect or guard someone or something from harm, to keep safe, to defend against threat, to watch over and shield; it also extends to obeying rules or duties and preserving what one holds dear.

Type

verb (godan, ru-ending)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • protecting a person or place from physical harm or danger
  • guarding against loss, damage, or theft
  • keeping a commitment, promise, or duty; preserving safety or confidentiality
  • observing rules, laws, or social norms; adhering to guidelines
  • watching over someone or something to ensure their safety or well-being

Composition

  • 宀 roof: protection, shelter
  • 寸 inch: small measure, implying care and precision
  • the combination expresses protecting or guarding by providing shelter and careful oversight

Usage

守る is used across registers from everyday speech to formal writing, and covers physical protection, guardianship of people or property, and abstract duties such as following laws or keeping a promise; in casual use it describes looking after someone or maintaining safety, while in formal contexts it appears in policy or military language meaning to defend or safeguard.
💡 Tips
Think of a roof sheltering a small entity; this image helps recall that 守る is about protecting what is under one’s care.

Variations

  • to protect, guard; romaji: mamoru
  • to maintain or keep; romaji: tamotsu
  • to prevent or ward off; romaji: fusegu
  • to defend or guard (in a strategic or formal sense); romaji: shubi suru
  • antonym: to break a rule; romaji: yaburu

Example Phrases

  • 国土を守るために町の防災訓練に参加した。
    Kokudo o mamoru tame ni machi no bousai kunren ni sanka shita.
    I joined the town’s disaster drill to protect the homeland.
    Lista:
    • 国土 (kokudo) – territory
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ために (tame ni) – for the purpose of / in order to
    • 町の (machi no) – town’s
    • 防災訓練 (bousai kunren) – disaster drill
    • に (ni) – to / in
    • 参加した (sanka shita) – participated
    In this sentence, 「国土」 means homeland/territory; together with を marks the object of 守る, and ために expresses purpose (in order to).
  • 学校では 時間を 守るのは 当たり前 だと 思う。
    Gakkou de wa jikan o mamoru no wa atarimae da to omou.
    At school, being on time is the norm.
    Lista:
    • 学校では (Gakkou de wa) – at school
    • 時間を (jikan o) – time
    • 守るのは (mamoru no wa) – keeping (it) is
    • 当たり前 (atarimae) – the norm
    • だと (da to) – it’s that
    • 思う (omou) – I think
    「当たり前」 expresses ‘the norm/obvious’ here.
  • 私の食事の法則を今日も守る。
    Watashi no shokuji no hōsoku o kyō mo mamoru.
    I keep following my meal rules today as well.
    Lista:
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 食事の (shokuji no) – meal’s
    • 法則を (hōsoku o) – rule
    • 今日も (kyō mo) – today as well
    • 守る (mamoru) – to keep
    The noun 「法則」 means a general rule; here it is the object of 守る and is modified by 食事の to form ‘the meal rules’.
  • 地域の風習を守るため、皆で話し合った。
    chiiki no fūshū o mamoru tame, mina de hanashiatta.
    We all discussed how to preserve the region’s customs.
    Lista:
    • 地域 (chiiki) – region
    • の (no) – possessive marker
    • 風習 (fūshū) – custom
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ため (tame) – for the purpose of
    • 皆 (mina) – everyone
    • で (de) – with / together
    • 話し合った (hanashiatta) – discussed
    「風習」 means a local custom; in this sentence it links with 地域 using の to form 地域の風習, and を marks the object of 守る.
  • 近所の 水源を 守る ボランティア に 参加した。
    Kinjo no suigen o mamoru borantia ni sanka shita.
    I joined a local volunteer group to protect the water source.
    Lista:
    • 近所の (kinjo no) – local
    • 水源を (suigen o) – water source
    • 守る (mamoru) – to protect
    • ボランティア (borantia) – volunteer
    • に (ni) – to/at
    • 参加した (sanka shita) – participated
    Core grammar: the relative clause 「水源を守る」 precedes and modifies ボランティア; 水源 is water source, を marks the object of 守る.
守る