protected
protected — adjective
1. describes a natural area, a wild animal, or a historical building that is shield
describes a natural area, a wild animal, or a historical building that is shielded from damage, destruction, or hunting by special laws.
Sea turtles are a protected species in many parts of the world.
collocation: protected species
The government added the forest to the list of protected areas last year.
collocation: protected areas
Visitors are not allowed to build anything inside this protected nature reserve.
The old temple is a protected building, so no one can change its outer walls.
A special permit is needed to enter this protected marine zone.
- safeguarded
more formal; often used in legal or official documents
- unprotected
not shielded by any law or measure
用法筆記
Frequently found before nouns naming natural features (areas, species, habitats) or heritage sites (buildings, monuments).
常見錯誤
2. kept away from danger, harm, or unwanted attention, so that a person or thing ex
kept away from danger, harm, or unwanted attention, so that a person or thing experiences no injury or loss.
The children felt safe and protected inside the locked house.
co-occurrence: safe and protected
The Watanabe family kept their valuables protected in a hidden drawer.
The witness was placed in a protected location until the trial ended.
A password keeps your online data protected from strangers.
The night-shift nurse made sure the patients were kept warm and protected during the storm.
- vulnerable
open to being hurt or attacked
用法筆記
Often follows the verb 'keep' or 'feel': keep something protected / feel protected. The agent or threat is typically introduced by 'from'.
常見錯誤
protected — verb
1. to stop someone or something from being hurt, damaged, or attacked, for example
to stop someone or something from being hurt, damaged, or attacked, for example by putting a barrier between them and the danger or by taking action to keep them out of trouble.
The mother bird spread her wings to protect her chicks from the rain.
pattern: protect [someone] from [something]
Dr. Okonkwo always wears a mask to protect his patients during surgery.
A good sunscreen protects your skin against the sun's harmful rays.
The security guard protected the bank by locking all the doors at night.
Thick gloves protect a gardener's hands when she handles rose bushes.
- endanger
to put someone or something in danger
文法句型
protect + noun phrase + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
The thing being protected is the direct object. The threat is introduced by 'from' (for actual danger) or 'against' (for potential risk or general protection).
常見錯誤
2. to use laws, contracts, or official guarantees to make sure that a person's or g
to use laws, contracts, or official guarantees to make sure that a person's or group's legal position, money, or interests are not taken away or weakened.
The new law protects tenants against unfair rent increases by landlords.
pattern: protect [group] against [unfair action]
A patent protects an inventor's right to be the only one who makes and sells their creation.
The constitution protects every citizen's freedom of speech.
The lawyer argued that the contract did not protect the artist's financial interests.
An insurance policy protects a family from serious financial loss after an accident.
- violate
to break or fail to respect a right or law
文法句型
protect + noun phrase + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject is typically a law, contract, policy, or institution. Object is an abstract right, interest, or status (not a person's physical safety).
常見錯誤
3. to limit foreign competition, usually by charging extra taxes on imported goods,
to limit foreign competition, usually by charging extra taxes on imported goods, so that businesses inside a country can continue to grow and sell their products.
The government decided to protect local farmers by raising taxes on imported rice.
pattern: protect [group] by [method]
Some countries protect their car industry with high tariffs on foreign vehicles.
collocation: protect [industry] with tariffs
Economists disagree about whether it is wise to protect domestic steel production through trade barriers.
The electronics company asked the government to protect it from cheap imported parts.
- shield
same core idea but less technical; used in broader contexts
- deregulate
to remove government controls and allow free competition
文法句型
protect + noun phrase + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always appears in discussions of trade policy, tariffs, and economic protectionism. Not used for personal or physical protection.
常見錯誤
4. in a game or match, to try to stop the other team or player from scoring points,
in a game or match, to try to stop the other team or player from scoring points, especially when your team is ahead.
The team tried to protect their one-goal lead during the final ten minutes.
collocation: protect a lead
Goalkeeper Chen dove to the left and managed to protect the goal from the penalty kick.
The defenders moved back to protect their basket as the last seconds ticked away.
The coach told the players to stop attacking and focus on protecting instead.
In the final quarter, the Lakers protected their advantage by slowing down the game.
- defend
more common in sports contexts; 'defend the goal' sounds more natural than 'protect the goal' in many games
- attack
to try to score rather than prevent scoring
文法句型
protect + noun phrase
protect against + noun phrase
用法筆記
When used intransitively ('the team is protecting'), the object (the lead, the goal) is understood from context. The transitive form is more common in game commentary.