Meaning
The kanji 抗 (KOU) represents the powerful concepts of “resistance,” “opposition,” “defiance,” and “confrontation.” It describes an action taken against something or someone, a refusal to yield. This kanji is essential for expressing various forms of pushback, from physical struggle to ideological disagreement. As a JLPT N1 kanji, it is commonly found in formal and academic contexts.
抗 is a phono-semantic compound, a common type of kanji where one component suggests the meaning and another the sound. It is composed of two elements:
- 扌 (te, hand radical): This radical, often called tehen (手偏), represents “hand” or actions involving the hand. It hints at the physical act of pushing back or holding something off.
- 亢 (kō, neck/high): This component primarily provides the on'yomi reading “KOU.” While its original meaning in ancient Chinese related to the neck or high ground, suggesting an elevated or unyielding posture, in the context of 抗, it functions mainly as a phonetic component. However, it's possible to imaginatively connect the idea of holding one's head high or standing firm to the concept of resistance.
Thus, the visual combination of a “hand” (扌) used in an “unyielding” (亢, phonetically suggestive of resistance) manner clearly conveys the meaning of “to resist” or “to oppose.” The kanji 抗 has 7 strokes and is a Joyo Kanji, typically learned at a higher education level or by those preparing for the JLPT N1 exam. Its presence indicates a sophisticated vocabulary related to conflict, struggle, and holding one's ground.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary on'yomi for 抗 is コウ (KOU). This reading, derived from ancient Chinese pronunciation, is almost exclusively used when 抗 appears in compound words with other kanji. It conveys the core meaning of resistance, opposition, or defiance in various contexts.
抵抗 (teikou) — resistance, opposition, standing up against. This is perhaps the most common compound, referring to both physical and psychological resistance.
外力に抵抗する (gairyoku ni teikou suru) — to resist external force.
対抗 (taikou) — opposition, rivalry, counteraction. Implies facing off against something or someone directly.
対抗馬 (taikouba) — rival (in an election, race, etc.).
反抗 (hankou) — rebellion, defiance, insubordination. Often used for open opposition, especially against authority.
親に反抗する (oya ni hankou suru) — to rebel against one's parents.
拮抗 (kikkou) — rivalry, evenly matched, deadlock. Describes a situation where two forces are in balanced opposition.
両者の力が拮抗する (ryōsha no chikara ga kikkou suru) — the strength of both sides is evenly matched.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary kun'yomi for 抗 is **あらがお
(araga-u)**. This reading is used when the kanji stands alone, often followed by okurigana (送り仮名) to form a native Japanese verb. It directly translates to “to resist,” “to oppose,” or “to defy.”
抗う (aragau) — to resist, to oppose, to defy. This verb highlights the act of fighting back or standing firm against something.
運命に抗う (unmei ni aragau) — to defy fate.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 抗 appears in a wide range of compound words, each adding a nuanced layer to its core meaning of resistance and opposition. These compounds are frequently encountered in various fields, from politics and medicine to everyday social interactions, highlighting its importance for advanced Japanese learners.
Societal and Political Resistance
- 抵抗運動 (teikou undou) — resistance movement. Actions taken by a group against an occupying power or oppressive regime.
- 抵抗勢力 (teikou seiryoku) — resistance forces, opposing forces. Groups or individuals actively working against a particular initiative or power.
- 反抗的 (hankouteki) — rebellious, defiant (adjective). Describes someone or something showing a tendency to rebel.
- 抗議 (kougi) — protest, objection. A formal expression of disagreement or disapproval.
- 抗議活動 (kougi katsudou) — protest activities. Organized events like demonstrations or rallies to express objection.
Medical and Biological Contexts
- 抗体 (koutai) — antibody. A protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects.
- 抗菌 (koukin) — antibacterial. Resistant to or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
- 抗生物質 (kouseibusshitsu) — antibiotic. A medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms.
- 抗がん剤 (kouganzai) — anticancer drug, chemotherapy drug. Medication used to treat cancer.
- 抗ウイルス薬 (kou uirusuyaku) — antiviral drug. Medication used specifically for treating viral infections.
- 抗うつ剤 (kō'utsuzai) — antidepressant.
Physical and Abstract Opposition
- 抵抗力 (teikouryoku) — resistance (power/ability). The capacity to resist or withstand something.
- 対抗策 (taikousaku) — countermeasure. A plan or action taken to counteract a problem or threat.
- 抗弁 (kouben) — plea, counterargument, exception (law). A defense or argument against a claim.
These examples highlight how 抗 can be combined to form specific terms for various types of resistance, from the immune system fighting disease to individuals challenging authority, enriching the Japanese lexicon with precise expressions of opposition.
Example Sentences
その学生は教師の意見に堂々と抗議した。
Sono gakusei wa kyōshi no iken ni dōdō to kōgi shita.
The student boldly protested the teacher's opinion.
新型コロナウイルスに対抗する新しい薬が開発された。
Shingata korona uirusu ni taikou suru atarashii kusuri ga kaihatsu sareta.
A new medicine to counteract the novel coronavirus has been developed.
彼はどんな困難にも抗わず、受け入れる姿勢を見せた。
Kare wa donna konnan ni mo aragawazu, ukeireru shisei o miseta.
He showed an attitude of accepting any difficulties without resisting.
体の抵抗力を高めるために、毎日ビタミンを摂っている。
Karada no teikouryoku o takameru tame ni, mainichi bitamin o totte iru.
I take vitamins every day to boost my body's resistance.
子供の反抗期は、成長の一環として重要な段階です。
Kodomo no hankouki wa, seichou no ikkan to shite juuyou na dankai desu.
A child's rebellious phase is an important stage as part of their growth.
彼らの主張は、社会に対する強い抵抗の表れだった。
Karera no shuchou wa, shakai ni tai suru tsuyoi teikou no araware datta.
Their assertion was a strong expression of resistance against society.
政府は野党の対抗策を検討している。
Seifu wa yatou no taikousaku o kentou shite iru.
The government is considering the opposition party's countermeasures.
抗生物質は細菌感染症の治療に不可欠です。
Kouseibusshitsu wa saikin kansenshō no chiryou ni fukaketsu desu.
Antibiotics are indispensable for treating bacterial infections.
水泳選手は水の抵抗を減らすために、特別なスーツを着る。
Suiei senshu wa mizu no teikou o herasu tame ni, tokubetsu na suutsu o kiru.
Swimmers wear special suits to reduce water resistance.
どんなに逆境でも、決して運命に抗うことを諦めてはならない。
Donna ni gyakkyō demo, kesshite unmei ni aragau koto o akiramete wa naranai.
No matter how adverse the circumstances, one must never give up resisting fate.
Memory Tip
To remember 抗, picture its components: 扌 (the hand radical) and 亢 (the phonetic component). Imagine a strong hand (扌) pushing back with great force, standing tall and unyielding (亢) against an opposing force. This image directly links the “hand” doing the resisting with the “kō” sound from 亢.
Think of a hand actively resisting, like pushing firmly against a wall or fending off an attacker. This mental image of a forceful hand movement effectively conveys the kanji's essence of resistance and defiance, making it easier to recall both its meaning and reading.