防备 (fáng bèi) is a verb meaning 'to guard against' or 'to take precautions against' something potentially harmful or dangerous. The first character 防 (fáng) means 'to prevent' or 'to defend', and the second character 备 (bèi) means 'to prepare' or 'to be ready'. Together, they convey the idea of proactive preparation to avoid harm — not just physical defense, but also mental vigilance or preventive action. It emphasizes foresight and readiness rather than reactive response.

This word is commonly used in contexts involving safety, health, security, or risk management — for example, guarding against disease, fraud, natural disasters, or accidents. It often appears in formal or semi-formal registers, such as public announcements, news reports, or official guidelines. While it can be used transitively ('guard against X'), it frequently appears with an object introduced by the preposition 对 (duì), or followed by a clause beginning with 以免 (yǐmiǎn, 'so as not to') or 以防 (yǐfáng, 'in order to prevent').