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Is there any difference in meaning between 護{まも}る and 守{まも}る? When there are
multiple kanji for a particular reading (like 暑{あつ}い/熱{あつ}い or 初{はじ}め/始{はじ}め),
they are frequently used in different situations (hot weather/hot to touch or
first time/start). According to the dictionaries (jisho.org and a pocket
dictionary) 守{まも}る is more common, but the story I'm reading now is using
護{まも}る. So I was wondering if there would be any particular reason for using 護
over 守.
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word-choice homophonic-kanji
What is the difference between 護る and 守る?
護る is used more to guard someone. There's a sense of security and guarding.
Instances of this can be seen in words like 護衛、援護、擁護、警護 etc

A use of 護る can be in a sentence like 陛下を護る、主君を護る

守る is used to defend or protect something. Words that use 守 include those like
守備、攻守, 守衛

Uses of 守る: 宝を守る、陣地を守る、城を守る etc.

So one's used to guard, the other is used to protect Hope that helps
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Basically 守る is the more general and common word for "protecting, guarding, or
keeping someone / something."

The 訓読み 「[護る]{まもる}」 is not listed in 常用漢字表 (thus it's not taught in schools),
and it can be only specifically used to protect/guard something from foreign
attacks.

  * 約束{やくそく｝を守る ( _keep a promise_ ): Good
  * 約束を護る: Not good
  * 秘密{ひみつ}を守る ( _keep a secret_ ): Good
  * 秘密を護る: Not good
  * 法律｛ほうりつ｝を守る ( _uphold/obey the law_ ): Good
  * 法律を護る: Not good, or maybe OK if you mean "to protect the law itself from being altered badly"

  * 祖国{そこく}を守る/護る ( _protect the homeland_ ): OK

  * 打撃{だげき}から身{み}を守る/護る ( _protect oneself from damage_ ): OK
  * サッカーのゴールを守る/護る ( _guard the goal_ ): OK

Personally, I always use 守る for all those purposes, and regard 護る as the word
only for novelists or songwriters.
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My personal feeling...

The most often use of 「護」 of 「護る」 is when god defends somebody. We use
「神の御加護がありますように」 as "I hope god bless you". And their is a 「護国神社」 in every
prefecture.

Or parents defends their kids, we call 「保護者」, adults who are legally
responsible for kids.
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