抗衡 (kàng héng) — to compete with, to vie with; to counter, to match (in strength or power)

Definition

抗衡 focuses on matching a rival's strength — 'to compete on equal footing'. 较量 is closer to a direct contest or test, while 抗争 stresses fighting back against injustice.

verb
to compete withto vie withto counterto match (in strength or power)

Examples

  • 抗衡。
    Liǎng gè gōng sī zài guó jì shì chǎng shàng jī liè kàng héng.
    The two companies are fiercely competing in the international market.
  • ,抗衡。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de jūn duì suī xiǎo, dàn yǒu néng lì yǔ dà guó kàng héng.
    This country's military is small but capable of countering a large country.
  • ,抗衡。
    Tā de shí lì hěn qiáng, hěn shǎo yǒu rén néng yǔ tā kàng héng.
    His ability is very strong; few can match him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

抗kàngresist
衡héngbalance

Resist and balance combine to mean matching or countering strength.

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
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 →

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
角角jiǎohorn
大大dàbig
Sound part声符shēngfú
行
行xíng衡héng
Same sound today

衡 uses 行 to hint at its sound, and includes 角 (horn) and 大 (big) as meaning parts.

Open 衡 →

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