顶住 (dǐng zhù) — to withstand, to stand up to (pressure, criticism, etc.)

Definition

A verb-complement meaning 'to hold firm / withstand pressure or attack' — the 住 highlights successfully enduring or standing one's ground, not just trying.

verb
to withstandto stand up to (pressure, criticism, etc.)

Examples

  • 顶住。
    Tā dǐng zhù le jù dà de yā lì.
    He withstood enormous pressure.
  • 顶住。
    Zhè ge jiàn zhù néng dǐng zhù bā jí dì zhèn.
    This building can withstand an 8.0 earthquake.
  • ，顶住，。
    Miàn duì pī píng, tā dǐng zhù dé zhù, cóng bú tuì suō.
    Facing criticism, he can stand up to it and never backs down.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

顶dǐngpush
住zhùsteady

顶 (push) + 住 (steady) means pushing and holding steady against pressure.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng頂dǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

Open 顶 →

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
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →

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