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Kanji for Protection
The kanji most commonly used for "Protection" are 守、護、衛.
守
Kanji that mean Protection
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守
to protect, to obey, to keep
Onyomi: shu, su Kunyomi: kami, mamo.ru, mamori, mori 6 strokes Jōyō
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護
to protect, to defend, to guard
Onyomi: go Kunyomi: mamo.ru 20 strokes Jōyō
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衛
guard, protect, defense
Onyomi: e, ei 16 strokes Jōyō
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保
protect, guarantee
Also associated with maintain.
Onyomi: ho, hoh Kunyomi: tamotsu 9 strokes Jōyō
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防
defend, prevent
Also associated with embankment.
Onyomi: boh Kunyomi: fuse.gu 7 strokes Jōyō
守 is protection as keeping and guarding: 守る (mamoru) is what you do for a person, a promise or a rule. It appears in 守備 (defense in sport) and in お守り, a protective charm from a shrine.
護 is protection as active care over something vulnerable — 保護 (protection, custody), 看護 (nursing), 守護 (guardianship). It is the heavier, more formal partner to 守.
衛 is protection as standing guard: 防衛 (defense), 護衛 (escort or bodyguard), 自衛隊 (the Self-Defense Forces). On its own it reads as holding a position rather than caring for someone, and it also appears in 衛生 (hygiene), a sense that catches learners out.
保 is preserving and maintaining — 保険 (insurance), 保存 (preservation). 防 is prevention, keeping something out: 予防 (prevention), 防止 (a check or stop). Between them, 守 and 護 cover most of what English means by protection.
Before you use Protection kanji
守 is the natural single character and reads as "to protect, to keep". 護 is also safe and slightly more formal. 衛 alone reads as standing guard and is likelier to suggest hygiene or a military unit than personal protection.