Meaning
抵御 means to resist or defend against something harmful or threatening, such as attacks, diseases, or adverse conditions. It emphasizes actively preventing or stopping something from causing harm. The word combines 抵 (to resist, to withstand) and 御 (to defend, to resist), creating a formal term commonly used in written contexts, news, and discussions about defense, immunity, or protection.
Usage
抵御 is relatively formal and appears frequently in written Chinese, news reports, and official contexts. It is commonly used when discussing military defense, disease resistance, natural disasters, or any situation requiring active protection against external threats. Native speakers would use it to describe both physical defense (like military resistance) and metaphorical defense (like resisting temptation or disease).
Examples
- 01人体的免疫系统可以抵御病毒的入侵。.The body's immune system can resist viral invasion.
- 02这座城墙是用来抵御敌人进攻的。.This city wall was built to defend against enemy attacks.
Characters
Common collocations
- 抵御外敌to resist foreign enemies
- 抵御风险to defend against risks
- 抵御能力ability to resist/defend
- 抵御疾病to resist disease
Antonyms
Origin
御 originally meant 'to drive (a chariot)' or 'to control' in classical Chinese, and later extended to mean 'to defend' or 'to resist.' Combined with 抵 (to resist), the compound 抵御 emphasizes the active defense against external forces.