護

It is a phono-semantic compound, formed from:

言 (“speech, words”) as the semantic element;

蒦 (hwak, a rarely used character) as the phonetic element.

In Korean usage, 호 (護) appears in many Sino-Korean compounds, especially in words relating to protection, defense, and care:

보호 (保護) – protection, safeguard

수호 (守護) – guarding, defense

호위 (護衛) – escort, guard

간호 (看護) – nursing, medical care

호법 (護法) – “protecting the law” (esp. Buddhist term)

호신 (護身) – self-protection

Thus, while the base meaning is “to assist” or “to protect,” in Korean vocabulary it has developed into a core element for words expressing protection, defense, and care in both everyday and specialized contexts.

In Taiwan and Hong Kong, the component above 蒦 is written with ⻀ (ram's horn component), which is the orthodox form found in the Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字 ( Shuōwén Jiězì)) and Kangxi dictionary.

In mainland China (based on Xin Zixing, 新字形), Japanese kanji, Korean hanja and Vietnamese Nôm, the component above 蒦 is written with 艹 (grass radical).