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B1 verb #4,100 most common 8 min read

抵抗

di kang Top 4,100

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 抵抗 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 抵抗 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '抵抗' (dǐkàng) often. You might simply use '不' (no) or '不要' (don't want). However, you might hear it in very simple contexts like '抵抗力' (immunity) when a teacher or parent tells you to eat vegetables to stay strong. Think of it as 'staying strong' against a cold.

At A2, you start to see '抵抗' in health contexts. You learn that '抵抗力' (dǐkànglì) is why you get sick. You might also see it in simple stories about soldiers '抵抗' (fighting) an enemy. The grammar is simple: Subject + 抵抗 + Object. '他抵抗感冒' (He resists the cold).

This is the target level for '抵抗'. You should be able to use it for both physical resistance (like an army) and abstract resistance (like resisting temptation or peer pressure). You should understand the difference between '抵抗' (to resist) and '拒绝' (to refuse). You can use it to describe your willpower.

At B2, you use '抵抗' in more formal writing and discussions about social issues. You might talk about '抵抗全球化' (resisting globalization) or '抵抗某种社会趋势' (resisting a certain social trend). You also start using related words like '抵御' and '抗拒' with more precision based on the context (natural forces vs. psychological forces).

At C1, you use '抵抗' in academic or literary analysis. You might analyze a character's '内心抵抗' (inner resistance) in a novel or discuss historical '抵抗运动' (resistance movements). You understand the subtle political nuances of the word and can use it in complex sentence structures with sophisticated adverbs like '顽强地' (tenaciously).

At C2, you have a masterly grasp of '抵抗'. You can use it in philosophical debates about the nature of power and resistance (e.g., Foucault's theories). You are familiar with its use in ancient texts and how the meaning of the individual characters (抵 and 抗) has evolved over thousands of years. You can use it metaphorically in almost any context.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

抵抗 in 30 Seconds

A verb meaning to resist, fight back, or withstand an external force.
Used commonly for military defense, physical immunity, and psychological temptation.
Often paired with '力' (lì) to mean 'resistance capacity' or 'immunity'.
Distinguished from '反抗' (rebellion) by its more defensive and reactive nature.

The Chinese word 抵抗 (dǐkàng) is a powerful verb that primarily translates to 'to resist,' 'to fight back,' or 'to withstand.' At its core, it describes an active effort to oppose a force that is trying to overwhelm, penetrate, or influence you. Whether it is a physical army invading a territory, a virus attacking the body, or a psychological urge to eat a piece of cake while on a diet, 抵抗 is the act of pushing back. It is composed of two characters: 抵 (dǐ), which means to prop up or reach, and 抗 (kàng), which means to resist or defy. Together, they create a sense of stable, firm opposition.

Military and Physical Conflict: In historical and news contexts, this word is frequently used to describe soldiers or citizens defending their country. It implies a defensive stance—protecting what is yours against an external aggressor. For example, '抵抗侵略者' (resist the invaders).
Biological and Medical Health: In daily life, you will most often encounter this word in the phrase '抵抗力' (dǐkànglì), which refers to one's immunity or the body's ability to resist disease. When you are tired, your '抵抗力' drops, making you susceptible to colds.
Psychological and Abstract Force: It is also used for abstract pressures, such as '抵抗诱惑' (resisting temptation) or '抵抗压力' (withstanding pressure). It suggests a conscious effort to maintain one's integrity or direction despite outside influence.

我们必须坚决抵抗这种不公平的政策。(Wǒmen bìxū jiānjué dǐkàng zhè zhǒng bù gōngpíng de zhèngcè.) - We must resolutely resist this unfair policy.

加强锻炼可以提高身体的抵抗力。(Jiāqiáng duànliàn kěyǐ tígāo shēntǐ de dǐkànglì.) - Strengthening exercise can improve the body's resistance.

In a world full of influences, 抵抗 is about standing your ground. Whether it is a building resisting an earthquake (抵抗地震) or a person resisting peer pressure, the word emphasizes the strength required to remain unchanged or uncaptured by an external force. It is a B1 level word because it transitions from physical concepts to abstract ones, requiring learners to understand how a physical 'push back' applies to health and social dynamics.

在这个寒冷的冬天，我的身体正在努力抵抗感冒。(Zài zhège hánlěng de dōngtiān, wǒ de shēntǐ zhèngzài nǔlì dǐkàng gǎnmào.) - In this cold winter, my body is working hard to resist a cold.

Register: Formal to Neutral. It is used in news reports, medical brochures, and serious conversations. It is rarely used in very casual slang unless being ironic.

Using 抵抗 correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb. Most commonly, it follows the structure: [Subject] + [抵抗] + [Object]. The object is usually the force being opposed. However, it is also frequently paired with the character 力 (lì - power/ability) to form the noun 'resistance capacity.'

With Physical Forces: When used with physical objects, it often appears in technical or descriptive contexts. '这栋建筑能够抵抗八级地震' (This building can withstand an 8-magnitude earthquake). Here, '抵抗' functions as 'withstand.'
With Health and Immunity: This is the most common usage for intermediate learners. '提高抵抗力' (improve immunity) is a set phrase. You don't just '抵抗' a disease; you use your '抵抗力' to fight it, or you '抵抗疾病的侵袭' (resist the attack of disease).

面对美食，我很难抵抗这种诱惑。(Miànduì měishí, wǒ hěn nán dǐkàng zhè zhǒng yòuhuò.) - Facing delicious food, it is hard for me to resist this temptation.

In grammatical terms, 抵抗 can be modified by adverbs of degree or manner. You can '顽强地抵抗' (stubbornly/tenaciously resist) or '无力抵抗' (be powerless to resist). When describing a historical event, it often takes an object like '侵略' (aggression) or '外敌' (foreign enemies).

军队在边境进行了顽强的抵抗。(Jūnduì zài biānjìng jìnxíngle wánqiáng de dǐkàng.) - The army put up a stubborn resistance at the border.

For B1 learners, focus on the '抵抗 + abstract noun' pattern. Common objects include: 诱惑 (temptation), 压力 (pressure), 趋势 (trend), and 情绪 (emotion/mood). If you are resisting a person's command, '反抗' (rebellion) is usually more natural, whereas '抵抗' is for the physical or systemic force they apply.

Understanding the environment where 抵抗 is used helps in mastering its nuance. It is not a word you would use to say 'I don't want to go to the movies.' It is much heavier than that. You will hear it in specific sectors of Chinese life.

In the Doctor's Office: If you are feeling unwell, a Chinese doctor might say: '你的身体抵抗力太差了' (Your body's resistance is too poor). They might advise you to sleep more to '增强抵抗力' (strengthen resistance). In this context, it is almost synonymous with 'immune system.'
In News and History: Chinese news often discusses geopolitical resistance. Phrases like '抵抗外部干预' (resist external interference) or '抵抗贸易制裁' (resist trade sanctions) are common in international segments of CCTV or People's Daily.
In Self-Help and Psychology: Modern Chinese podcasts and self-improvement books use '抵抗' when talking about procrastination or addiction. '如何抵抗手机的诱惑' (How to resist the temptation of mobile phones) is a very common topic for modern urbanites.

历史书记录了人民如何抵抗侵略。(Lìshǐ shū jìlùle rénmín rúhé dǐkàng qīnlüè.) - History books record how the people resisted aggression.

In pop culture, you might hear it in historical dramas (Wuxia or Period dramas) where heroes '抵抗暴政' (resist tyranny). In sci-fi movies, it's used when Earth '抵抗外星人' (resists aliens). It carries a heroic, often defensive connotation that implies the subject is the underdog or the defender.

Learners often confuse 抵抗 (dǐkàng) with several similar-sounding or similar-meaning words. Understanding these distinctions is key to reaching B2 and C1 levels.

抵抗 vs. 反抗 (fǎnkàng): '抵抗' is primarily defensive—stopping something from coming in. '反抗' is more active and rebellious—striking back against oppression. You '抵抗' an invasion (defense), but you '反抗' a cruel boss (rebellion). If you use '抵抗' for a rebellion, it sounds like you are just blocking their hits rather than trying to overthrow them.
抵抗 vs. 拒绝 (jùjué): '拒绝' means 'to refuse' or 'to reject.' It is a verbal or social act. You '拒绝' an invitation. You '抵抗' a temptation. If you say '我抵抗了他的邀请,' it sounds like his invitation was a physical force or a virus you were trying to survive, which is grammatically odd.
Misusing '抵抗力': Many students say '我有很好的抵抗' (I have good resistance). In Chinese, you must say '我有很好的抵抗力' (I have good resistance-power). Without the '力', it sounds like you are currently in the middle of a physical fight.

❌ 我抵抗了他的建议。
✅ 我拒绝了他的建议。
(I rejected his suggestion.)

Another mistake is using '抵抗' for electrical resistance. As mentioned before, that is '电阻.' Also, avoid using '抵抗' when you mean 'to withstand' in terms of endurance (like 'withstanding' a long movie), for which '忍受' (rěnshòu) is better.

Depending on the context, you might want to choose a more specific word than 抵抗. Here is a comparison of alternatives.

抵御 (dǐyù): This is more formal and often used for natural elements or long-term defense. '抵御寒冷' (ward off the cold) or '抵御洪水' (withstand floods). It has a stronger sense of 'warding off' or 'shielding.'
抗拒 (kàngjù): This emphasizes the internal refusal or emotional resistance. It is often used for 'resisting' arrest (抗拒逮捕) or 'resisting' an order. It feels more psychological and stubborn.
防御 (fángyù): This means 'defense.' It is often a noun or a verb used for systemic defense, like a 'defense system' (防御系统). While '抵抗' is the act of fighting back, '防御' is the overall strategy of protection.
抗争 (kàngzhēng): This means 'to struggle against' or 'to contend.' It is used for social movements or fighting against fate. '与命运抗争' (struggle against fate).

他无法抗拒那个职位的诱惑。(He couldn't resist the temptation of that position.) - Note: '抗拒' and '抵抗' are often interchangeable for temptation, but '抗拒' is slightly more literary.

When choosing, ask yourself: Is this a physical defense (抵抗/抵御), a social rebellion (反抗/抗争), or a psychological refusal (抗拒)? This will help you select the most native-sounding term.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Both characters in '抵抗' contain the 'hand' radical (扌), emphasizing that resistance was originally conceived as a physical action performed with the hands.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /diː kɑːŋ/

US /di kɑŋ/

The stress is on the second syllable 'kàng'.

Rhymes With

健康 (jiànkāng) 思想 (sīxiǎng) 边疆 (biānjiāng) 大方 (dàfāng) 帮忙 (bāngmáng) 家乡 (jiāxiāng) 希望 (xīwàng) 目光 (mùguāng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'di' as 'dai'.
Using a rising tone for 'kàng' (which would make it 'káng').
Failing to aspirate the 'k' in 'kàng'.
Confusing it with 'dikang' (no tones).
Confusing 'di' (third tone) with 'di' (fourth tone).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Characters are moderately complex but the hand radical helps recognition.

Writing 4/5

Writing '抵' and '抗' requires attention to stroke order and the right-side components.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward with clear tones.

Listening 3/5

Can be confused with '对抗' or '抵御' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

抗 (resist) 力 (power) 病 (illness) 诱惑 (temptation) 军队 (army)

Learn Next

抵御 (ward off) 抗拒 (defy) 防御 (defense) 免疫 (immunity) 反抗 (rebel)

Advanced

电阻 (electrical resistance) 霸权 (hegemony) 侵略 (aggression) 韧性 (resilience) 博弈 (game theory/struggle)

Grammar to Know

The use of '力' (lì) to turn verbs into nouns of capacity.

抵抗 -> 抵抗力 (resistance capacity)

Adverbial placement before the verb '抵抗'.

顽强地抵抗 (tenaciously resist)

Resultative complements with 抵抗.

抵抗住了 (successfully resisted)

Using '无法' (wúfǎ) for 'unable to'.

无法抵抗 (unable to resist)

Transitive vs Intransitive usage.

他们正在抵抗 (Intransitive); 他们在抵抗敌人 (Transitive).

Examples by Level

多喝水可以提高抵抗力。

Drinking more water can improve resistance.

Noun: 抵抗力 (immunity).

他身体好，抵抗力强。

He is healthy; his resistance is strong.

Adjective phrase: 抵抗力强.

不要抵抗，听医生的话。

Don't resist, listen to the doctor.

Imperative: 不要 + 抵抗.

我们要抵抗感冒。

We need to resist the cold.

Verb: 抵抗.

小猫在抵抗洗澡。

The kitten is resisting taking a bath.

Verb: 抵抗 + Action.

他的抵抗力很弱。

His resistance is very weak.

Noun: 抵抗力.

吃水果能增加抵抗力。

Eating fruit can increase resistance.

Verb: 增加 + 抵抗力.

我不抵抗好吃的食物。

I don't resist delicious food.

Negative: 不 + 抵抗.

军队在抵抗敌人。

The army is resisting the enemy.

Verb: 抵抗 + Object (enemy).

这种药可以增强身体的抵抗力。

This medicine can strengthen the body's resistance.

Verb: 增强 + 抵抗力.

他无法抵抗那个游戏的诱惑。

He cannot resist the temptation of that game.

Structure: 无法 + 抵抗.

冬天我们要抵抗严寒。

In winter, we must resist the severe cold.

Verb: 抵抗 + Natural force.

这只狗在抵抗主人的命令。

This dog is resisting the owner's command.

Verb: 抵抗 + Command.

我们要共同抵抗病毒。

We must resist the virus together.

Adverb: 共同 + 抵抗.

他没有力气抵抗了。

He has no strength left to resist.

Noun: 力气 + 抵抗.

墙壁可以抵抗风雨。

The wall can resist wind and rain.

Verb: 抵抗 + Weather.

面对诱惑，我们需要强大的抵抗力。

Facing temptation, we need strong resistance.

Abstract usage of 抵抗力.

当地居民组织起来抵抗洪水。

Local residents organized to resist the flood.

Verb: 组织起来 + 抵抗.

这种材料能抵抗高温。

This material can withstand high temperatures.

Technical usage: 抵抗 + Physical property.

他顽强地抵抗着病魔的折磨。

He is tenaciously resisting the torment of the illness.

Adverb: 顽强地 + 抵抗.

我们不能盲目地抵抗新的技术。

We cannot blindly resist new technology.

Adverbial: 盲目地 + 抵抗.

为了保护家园，他们选择抵抗。

To protect their home, they chose to resist.

Verb as an intransitive action.

心理素质好的人更容易抵抗压力。

People with good psychological quality resist pressure more easily.

Verb: 抵抗 + 压力 (pressure).

他的身体对这种抗生素产生了抵抗。

His body has developed a resistance to this antibiotic.

Noun: 产生 + 抵抗 (resistance).

该国呼吁国际社会共同抵抗侵略。

The country calls on the international community to jointly resist aggression.

Formal: 抵抗 + 侵略 (aggression).

我们需要增强心理抵抗力来面对挫折。

We need to enhance psychological resistance to face setbacks.

Compound: 心理抵抗力.

这种植物具有抵抗干旱的能力。

This plant has the ability to resist drought.

Formal: 具有...的能力.

他一直抵抗着由于孤独带来的抑郁。

He has been resisting the depression brought on by loneliness.

Continuous: 抵抗着.

电影展现了平民抵抗暴政的故事。

The movie shows the story of civilians resisting tyranny.

Object: 暴政 (tyranny).

政府采取措施抵抗通货膨胀。

The government took measures to resist inflation.

Economic context: 抵抗 + 通货膨胀.

有些传统观念很难抵抗现代化的冲击。

Some traditional concepts are hard to resist the impact of modernization.

Object: 冲击 (impact).

他在法庭上坚决抵抗所有的指控。

He firmly resisted all charges in court.

Legal context: 抵抗 + 指控 (charges).

这种文化抵抗不仅是政治的，也是精神的。

This cultural resistance is not only political but also spiritual.

Noun: 文化抵抗 (cultural resistance).

在极端环境下，生物体会产生本能的抵抗。

In extreme environments, organisms produce instinctive resistance.

Scientific: 本能的 + 抵抗.

他试图抵抗那种席卷全社会的消费主义。

He tried to resist the consumerism sweeping through society.

Object: 消费主义 (consumerism).

这种防御系统能有效抵抗网络攻击。

This defense system can effectively resist cyber attacks.

Tech context: 网络攻击 (cyber attack).

他以沉默来抵抗对方的无理要求。

He used silence to resist the other party's unreasonable demands.

Method: 以...来抵抗.

这篇文章分析了文学作为一种抵抗形式的意义。

This article analyzes the significance of literature as a form of resistance.

Noun: 抵抗形式 (form of resistance).

尽管面临重重困难，他们依然没有停止抵抗。

Despite facing numerous difficulties, they still haven't stopped resisting.

Conjunction: 尽管...依然.

该地区的生态系统正努力抵抗外来物种的入侵。

The region's ecosystem is working hard to resist the invasion of invasive species.

Biological: 外来物种 (invasive species).

这种深刻的哲学抵抗源于对自由的渴望。

This profound philosophical resistance stems from a desire for freedom.

Abstract: 哲学抵抗 (philosophical resistance).

历史的洪流往往是个人难以抵抗的。

The torrent of history is often difficult for individuals to resist.

Metaphorical: 历史的洪流.

这种美学风格是对商业化倾向的一种无声抵抗。

This aesthetic style is a silent resistance to the trend of commercialization.

Aesthetic context: 无声抵抗.

在权力的核心，抵抗往往以更隐蔽的形式存在。

At the core of power, resistance often exists in more covert forms.

Political: 隐蔽的形式 (covert forms).

他的一生都在抵抗平庸与世俗的侵蚀。

He spent his whole life resisting the erosion of mediocrity and worldliness.

Object: 平庸 (mediocirty).

这种叙事策略旨在抵抗单一历史观的霸权。

This narrative strategy aims to resist the hegemony of a single view of history.

Academic: 霸权 (hegemony).

物理学中，物体抵抗运动状态改变的性质称为惯性。

In physics, the property of an object to resist changes in its state of motion is called inertia.

Scientific definition of inertia.

这种诗意的抵抗，赋予了悲剧某种崇高的美感。

This poetic resistance gives the tragedy a certain sublime beauty.

Literary: 崇高的美感 (sublime beauty).

Synonyms

抗击抵御反抗防御抗争

Antonyms

投降屈服顺从

Common Collocations

抵抗力

顽强抵抗

抵抗诱惑

无力抵抗

抵抗侵略

抵抗疾病

坚决抵抗

抵抗压力

产生抵抗

抵抗严寒

Common Phrases

抵抗力下降

— When your immune system becomes weak. Used when you are tired or stressed.

最近太累了，我的抵抗力下降了。

武装抵抗

— Fighting back using weapons. Used in historical or news contexts.

当地居民发起了武装抵抗。

无法抵抗

— Cannot resist. Used for strong temptations or overwhelming forces.

这个计划的魅力让人无法抵抗。

消极抵抗

— Passive resistance. Doing nothing or working slowly to show opposition.

他用消极抵抗的方式表达不满。

进行抵抗

— To carry out resistance. A standard verb-noun combination.

他们正在全力进行抵抗。

抵抗情绪

— A feeling of resistance or reluctance towards something.

学生们对这项新规定有抵抗情绪。

抵抗风险

— To withstand or mitigate risks. Used in finance or planning.

我们需要提高抵抗风险的能力。

抵抗外部干扰

— To resist external interference. Common in politics and tech.

这台设备能有效抵抗外部干扰。

生理抵抗

— Physical or biological resistance.

这是一种自然的生理抵抗。

抵抗到底

— To resist until the very end.

我们要抵抗到底，永不放弃。

Often Confused With

抵抗 vs 反抗

Rebellion vs. Defense. Use 抵抗 for defense, 反抗 for striking back against authority.

抵抗 vs 抵制

Boycott vs. Resist. Use 抵制 for products or cultural trends, 抵抗 for forces or diseases.

抵抗 vs 抵抗力

The ability vs. the action. Use 抵抗力 for immunity, 抵抗 for the act of resisting.

Idioms & Expressions

"负隅顽抗"

— To put up a desperate struggle in a hopeless situation. Literally: 'rely on a corner to resist stubbornly.'

残余的敌人仍在负隅顽抗。

Formal/Literary

"螳臂当车"

— A mantis trying to stop a chariot. Used to describe someone overestimating their power to resist a huge force.

这种抵抗无异于螳臂当车。

Literary

"不战而屈"

— To surrender without a fight. The opposite of resistance.

他竟然不战而屈，让人失望。

Literary

"坚贞不屈"

— Firm and unyielding. Used for heroes who resist torture or temptation.

他在敌人面前坚贞不屈。

Literary

"宁死不屈"

— Rather die than submit. The ultimate form of resistance.

烈士们宁死不屈的精神值得学习。

Literary

"孤军奋战"

— Fighting alone without help. Often used with resistance.

他一个人在孤军奋战，抵抗所有的流言蜚语。

Neutral

"百毒不侵"

— Immune to all poisons. Hyperbolic resistance.

他经常锻炼，简直是百毒不侵。

Informal

"防患未然"

— To take preventive measures. A form of preemptive resistance.

我们要防患未然，抵抗可能出现的危机。

Formal

"众志成城"

— Unity is strength. Used when a group resists a disaster together.

大家众志成城，抵抗了这场特大洪水。

Formal

"因势利导"

— To guide something according to its natural trend rather than resisting it.

与其抵抗这种趋势，不如因势利导。

Formal

Easily Confused

抵抗 vs 拒绝

Both involve saying 'no'.

拒绝 is for social offers; 抵抗 is for forces or temptations.

我拒绝了他的钱，因为我要抵抗贪婪。

抵抗 vs 抵御

Both mean resist/withstand.

抵御 is more for natural elements or passive defense; 抵抗 is more active.

城墙抵抗了攻击，也抵御了寒风。

抵抗 vs 抗拒

Very similar in meaning.

抗拒 is more emotional or psychological refusal.

他抗拒被捕。

抵抗 vs 防御

Both involve protection.

防御 is the system or strategy; 抵抗 is the action.

防御系统帮助我们抵抗攻击。

抵抗 vs 忍受

Both involve dealing with something bad.

忍受 is to endure/suffer through; 抵抗 is to fight back.

我不能只是忍受痛苦，我要抵抗它。

Sentence Patterns

Subject + 抵抗 + Object

他抵抗感冒。

Subject + 无法抵抗 + [Abstract Noun]

我无法抵抗美食的诱惑。

增强 + 身体的 + 抵抗力

多运动能增强身体的抵抗力。

进行 + [Adjective] + 的抵抗

人民进行了顽强的抵抗。

具有 + 抵抗...的能力

这种植物具有抵抗干旱的能力。

以...来抵抗...

他以沉默来抵抗对方的要求。

对...产生抵抗

细菌对这种药产生了抵抗。

[Abstract Concept] + 是对...的抵抗

这种美学风格是对平庸的抵抗。

Word Family

Nouns

抵抗力 (immunity/resistance)

抵抗者 (resister)

抵抗运动 (resistance movement)

Verbs

抵御 (ward off)

抗拒 (resist/defy)

反抗 (rebel)

对抗 (confront)

Adjectives

抵抗的 (resistant)

可抵抗的 (resistible)

不可抵抗的 (irresistible)

阻力 (resistance/drag)

防御 (defense)

免疫 (immunity)

冲突 (conflict)

斗争 (struggle)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, health discussions, and literature. Less common in basic everyday 'yes/no' scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Using '抵抗' for rejecting a gift. → 使用 '拒绝'。
Gifts are social, not a force to be resisted.
Saying '我有强抵抗'。 → 说 '我有很强的抵抗力'。
You need the noun '力' to describe the capacity.
Using '抵抗' for electrical resistance. → 使用 '电阻'。
Scientific terms in Chinese are very specific.
Confusing '抵抗' and '反抗' in history. → Use '抵抗' for national defense.
Rebellion is '反抗', defense is '抵抗'.
Using '抵抗' as an adjective without '的'。 → 抵抗的...
Verbs need '的' to modify nouns.

Tips

Noun vs. Verb

Remember that '抵抗' can be both. '进行抵抗' (do resistance) uses it as a noun.

Health Focus

At the B1 level, the most useful phrase is '提高抵抗力' (increase immunity).

History Matters

Knowing that '抗' is the key character in the War of Resistance against Japan helps understand its weight.

Radical Recognition

The 扌 radical tells you this word involves an action of the hand or person.

Temptation

Use '无法抵抗' to talk about things you love too much, like '无法抵抗奶茶的诱惑'.

Abstract Forces

Don't forget it's for abstract things like '压力' (pressure) and '趋势' (trend).

Resistance vs. Rebellion

Use '抵抗' for invaders, '反抗' for bad bosses.

Passive Resistance

Learn '消极抵抗' to describe subtle forms of disagreement.

Collocation

Learn it with '顽强' (stubborn/tenacious) as they are often paired.

Handy Defense

Think of using your hands to push back a heavy door.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Di' as 'Defense' and 'Kang' as 'Kicking back'. You use your hands (扌 radical) to defend and kick the enemy away.

Visual Association

Imagine a person holding a shield (抵) and a spear (抗) standing firm against a storm.

Word Web

免疫病毒诱惑军队压力防御坚强保护

Challenge

Try to use '抵抗' in three different contexts today: once for your health, once for a food temptation, and once for a historical fact.

Word Origin

The word is a compound of two ancient characters. '抵' (dǐ) originally meant to push or to prop up with the hand (notice the hand radical 扌). '抗' (kàng) originally meant to raise high or to oppose (also featuring the hand radical 扌).

Original meaning: To push back or hold up with one's hands against a descending or approaching force.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Avoid using '抵抗' when discussing sensitive current political events in mainland China unless you are prepared for a serious debate.

In English, 'resistance' can be electrical or political. In Chinese, '抵抗' is mostly physical/biological/military. Electrical resistance is '电阻'.

抗日战争 (The War of Resistance against Japan) 抵抗者 (The Resisters - various literary works) 星球大战中的抵抗组织 (The Resistance in Star Wars)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Medical/Health

提高抵抗力
身体虚弱
抵抗病毒
免疫系统

Military/War

抵抗侵略
顽强抵抗
武装抵抗
防线

Personal Willpower

抵抗诱惑
抵抗压力
无法抵抗
心理素质

Natural Disasters

抵抗洪水
抵抗地震
抵御寒冷
自然灾害

Technology

抵抗干扰
网络攻击
防御系统
数据安全

Conversation Starters

"你觉得吃什么能提高身体的抵抗力？"

"面对甜食的诱惑，你通常怎么抵抗？"

"在历史上，哪个国家的抵抗运动让你印象最深？"

"你认为现在的年轻人如何抵抗社交媒体带来的压力？"

"如果你的身体抵抗力下降了，你会怎么做？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你曾经成功抵抗某种诱惑的经历。

你认为一个强大的国家最需要什么样的抵抗力？

讨论一下现代社会中，人们最难抵抗的东西是什么。

如果你是一名医生，你会如何建议病人增强抵抗力？

描述一个你认为非常坚强、总是能抵抗困难的人。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, in physics, electrical resistance is '电阻' (diànzǔ). '抵抗' is for physical or biological forces.

It ranges from neutral to formal. You can use it in daily life for health, but it also appears in serious news reports.

抵抗 is defensive (stopping something), while 反抗 is offensive (striking back against power).

The formal term is '免疫系统' (miǎnyì xìtǒng), but in casual speech, people often just say '抵抗力' (dǐkànglì).

Yes, it can mean 'the resistance' as an act or a movement.

Mostly, but you can also say '心理抵抗力' for mental resilience.

It means 'passive resistance,' like working slowly to show you disagree with a boss.

Only if your friend is physically attacking you or trying to force you into something. Usually, '拒绝' is better for social situations.

It's an idiom for a hopeless, desperate struggle by someone who is cornered.

Both characters have the hand radical 扌. 抵 has 氐 on the right; 抗 has 亢 on the right.