phòng bị
[fawŋ͡m˨˩ ʔɓi˧˨ʔ]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
(verb) to take precautions
Verb
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Trước đó, thủy-quân nghe tin quân giặc còn xa, không hề phòng-bị chi hết, thuyền bè mỗi chiếc mỗi nơi, linh-tinh khắp bãi sông.Before that, the navy had heard that the enemy was still far away, which is why they took no precautions at all; their boats were scattered haphazardly all over on the riverbank.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Common questions
What does “phòng bị” mean?
(verb) to take precautions
Is “phòng bị” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.