TongTong
Sign in

反抗 (fǎn kàng) — to resist; to rebel

Definition

反抗 is a broad verb for active, open resistance or rebellion, often against authority, oppression, or control. Compare 抵抗 (resist/withstand an attack) and 抗争 (struggle, fight against injustice).

verb
to resistto rebel

Examples

  • 反抗。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐ huan fǎn kàng quán wēi.
    He has liked to resist authority since childhood.
  • ，反抗。
    Miàn duì bù gōng, wǒ men yīng gāi yǒng gǎn fǎn kàng.
    Facing injustice, we should bravely resist.
  • 反抗。
    Qīng chūn qī de hái zi cháng cháng fǎn kàng fù mǔ de guǎn jiào.
    Adolescent children often rebel against their parents' discipline.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

反fǎnto oppose
抗kàngto resist

反 means to oppose and 抗 means to resist, giving a sense of resisting or rebelling.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
厂
厂chǎng反fǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

反 uses 又 (hand) for meaning and 厂 for sound. Its original shape showed a hand turning its palm over, giving the sense of return or reverse.

Open 反 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
亢
亢kàng抗kàng
Same sound today

抗 is made from 扌, a written form of 手 (hand), and 亢, which gives the sound.

Open 抗 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.