防 is built from the 阝 (hill (left) / village (right)) and 方 components.
It reads ボウ like 方, as do 放, 訪, 房, and 芳 — learn 方 once and the family's reading comes with it.
A common word using 防 is 消防 (しょうぼう), meaning “fire fighting, fire department”.
Don't confuse it with 妨, 肪, 房, and 紡.
