What are the differences between these words? Please explain!!?

Question:

I am a little confused. In their groups, they sound like they have the same meanings. Can you explain when each is used? Please us in example sentences. Thank You!

To protect‐　守る、擁護する

To hear－　聞く、聴く、

To understand-　理解する、知る、分かる

What is the word for stepfather and stepfamily?
I looked in the dictionary but my Japanese friend said no one says mamachichi.....what is the word? He didn't know.

Answer:

擁護する is used in disputes. Conference で He は her を擁護した。

守る is used in various occasions.
Ichiro は right field を守る。
Wife は home を守る。
Father は son を守る。
Emperor は tradition を守る。

聞く is just hear.
聴く is listen (in concentration).

知る is just know.
理解する and 分かる mean understand.(same meaning)


But 理解するand 擁護する are used in formal occasions. Difficult chinese characters kanji are for formal occasions.

Mamachichi is seldom used.
Japanese would rather say "義理の父" father in law.
Father in law is not same as mamachichi though.

If you have to explain exact relation, you have to say "my true father have died and my mother remarried him."