抗う

• Reading: あらがう
• Romaji: aragau
• Kanji breakdown: 抗 (kō/araga) — resist, oppose, defy
• Pronunciation: /a.ɾa.ɡa.ɯ/

Meaning

To resist; to oppose; to defy. Implies actively struggling against a force, authority, or inevitable circumstance.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. 抗う (also read あらがう) is a literary and elevated word for resistance, often appearing in writing rather than casual speech. It typically describes struggling against something formidable — fate, authority, illness, or the natural order — and carries a connotation of dignity in the act of resistance even when success is uncertain. Common collocations: 運命に抗う (defy fate), 権力に抗う (resist authority).

Examples

1. 時代の流れに抗うことは難しいが、信念を貫こうとする人は尊い。 It is difficult to resist the tide of the times, but those who try to hold fast to their convictions are admirable.
2. 理不尽な権力に抗った記者たちの記録が、後世に語り継がれている。 The records of journalists who resisted unjust authority continue to be passed down to future generations.
3. 病に抗いながらも彼女は研究を続け、重要な論文を書き上げた。 She continued her research while fighting illness and completed an important paper.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, politics, philosophy, medicine

Tone: determined

Origin & History

From the kanji 抗 (kō), meaning to resist or oppose, combined with the godan verb suffix. 抗 appears in many resistance-related compounds: 抵抗 (resistance), 反抗 (defiance), 対抗 (competition). The reading あらがう is the native Japanese reading of this concept.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated