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.
Answer
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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