抵抗

• Pinyin: dǐ kàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 抵 = 扌(hand) + 氐 (bottom); 抗 = 扌(hand) + 亢 (high/proud)

Meaning

To resist; to fight against. Opposition or resistance to force or pressure.

Used for resisting aggression, disease, pressure, or temptation. Can be physical (military resistance) or abstract (resisting temptation). Also used for the body's immune resistance (抵抗力).

Examples

1. 面对入侵，人民奋起抵抗，保卫家园。 Facing invasion, the people rose up to resist and defend their homeland.
2. 多运动可以增强身体的抵抗力。 More exercise can strengthen the body's resistance.
3. 他无法抵抗美食的诱惑，减肥计划又失败了。 He couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food, and his diet plan failed again.

Usage Guide

Context: conflict, health, psychology

Tone: strong

Do Say

• 抵抗外来侵略。(Resist foreign invasion.)
• 提高抵抗力很重要。(It's important to boost resistance.)

Don't Say

• 抵抗强调对抗，不能用于被动接受的情况 (抵抗 emphasizes opposition — don't use it for situations of passive acceptance)

Origin & History

Combines 抵 (to resist/push against) with 抗 (to oppose/resist), doubling the meaning of resistance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal