抵御 (dǐ yù) — to resist, to withstand

Definition

抵御 (dǐyù) means to hold off and withstand a threat — cold, invasion, temptation. Compared to 抵抗 (active fighting back) and 对抗 (confronting an opponent), it focuses on enduring and staying intact rather than counter-attacking.

verb
to resistto withstand

Examples

  • 抵御
    Dōng tiān yào chuān hòu yī fu lái dǐ yù hán lěng.
    In winter you need to wear thick clothes to resist the cold.
  • 抵御
    Tā wú fǎ dǐ yù měi shí de yòu huò.
    He couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food.
  • 抵御
    Zhè ge guó jiā chéng gōng dǐ yù le wài dí de rù qīn.
    This country successfully withstood the invasion of foreign enemies.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

resist
ward off

抵 (resist) and 御 (ward off) combine to mean withstanding an attack.

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
shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

抵 pairs 手 (hand) with 氐, which gives its sound.

Open 抵 →

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
jiékneeling person
Sound part声符shēngfú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form combines 午 and 卩, a kneeling person; walking signs add action, and the whole form means govern.

Open 御 →

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