对抗

• Pinyin: duì kàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 对 = 寸 (inch) + 对 — facing; 抗 = 扌 (hand) + 亢 (high, resist) — resisting with hands

Meaning

To confront; to resist; to oppose; confrontation. Active resistance or opposition against a force, authority, or opponent.

Implies active, often physical or intense opposition rather than passive resistance. Used in sports (对抗性比赛 = contact sports), medicine (免疫对抗 = immune response), politics, and conflict. Related: 对抗赛 (match/bout), 对抗性 (adversarial nature), 武装对抗 (armed confrontation).

Examples

1. 病毒不断变异，人体免疫系统要持续对抗新的威胁。 Viruses keep mutating, so the human immune system must continuously fight new threats.
2. 这场比赛对抗激烈，双方球员都拼尽了全力。 The match was intensely competitive, with players on both sides giving their all.
3. 长期的对抗消耗了双方大量资源，最后不得不坐下来谈判。 Long-term confrontation drained both sides' resources, and they eventually had to sit down and negotiate.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, conflict, medical

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们要用法律手段对抗不公正待遇。(We must use legal means to fight against unfair treatment.)
• 这种药能帮助身体对抗感染。(This medicine helps the body fight infection.)

Don't Say

• 用对抗形容轻微的意见分歧 (Don't use 对抗 for minor disagreements — it implies serious opposition; use 不同意 or 有分歧 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 对 (facing, opposite) + 抗 (to resist). Together they mean facing something and resisting it.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal