抵抗

• Reading: ていこう
• Romaji: teikou
• Kanji breakdown: 抵 (tei) — resist, press against; 抗 (kou) — oppose, defy
• Pronunciation: /teː.koː/

Meaning

Resistance; opposition. The act of resisting or pushing back against something.

A noun that also functions as a suru verb (抵抗する, to resist). Used in physical contexts (抵抗力, resistance/immunity), emotional contexts (抵抗がある, to feel resistance/reluctance), political contexts (権力に抵抗する, to resist authority), and scientific contexts (電気抵抗, electrical resistance). A versatile word spanning everyday and technical language.

Examples

1. 新しいルールに社員が抵抗している。 The employees are resisting the new rules.
2. 生の魚を食べることに抵抗がある人もいる。 Some people feel reluctant about eating raw fish.
3. 運動をすると病気への抵抗力がつく。 Exercising builds up resistance to illness.

Usage Guide

Context: social issues, health, science

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 抵 (tei, to resist/press against) and 抗 (kou, to oppose/defy). Both kanji contain the hand radical 扌, conveying the image of pushing back physically against a force.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal