verb HSK 5
kàng
to resist · to refuse · to defy

Meaning

抗拒 means to actively resist or oppose something, often implying a struggle against force, pressure, or temptation. It conveys a sense of pushing back against something unwanted, whether physical, psychological, or social. The term carries a slightly formal tone and suggests conscious opposition.

Usage

抗拒 is commonly used in formal or written contexts to describe resistance to authority, temptation, pressure, or change. It's stronger than simply saying 不要 (don't want) and implies active opposition. Often appears in legal, psychological, or literary contexts. Common patterns include 抗拒诱惑 (resist temptation) and 无法抗拒 (unable to resist).

Examples

  1. 01
    他无法抗拒巧克力的诱惑。
    kàng qiǎo de yòu huò.
    He cannot resist the temptation of chocolate.
  2. 02
    很多人抗拒改变自己的生活方式。
    Hěn duō rén kàng gǎi biàn de shēng huó fāng shì.
    Many people resist changing their lifestyle.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 抗拒诱惑
    kàng yòu huò
    to resist temptation
  • 无法抗拒
    kàng
    unable to resist
  • 抗拒执法
    kàng zhí
    to resist law enforcement
  • 抗拒改变
    kàng gǎi biàn
    to resist change

Antonyms

Origin

Both characters relate to opposition: 抗 originally depicted raising hands to resist, while 拒 combines hand (扌) with a phonetic component suggesting pushing away.

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