HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4052, Very Hard
抗
kàng
to fight
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4052, Very Hard
抗
kàng
to defy
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4052, Very Hard
抗
kàng
anti-
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #4052, Very Hard
kàng(kang4)kang T4
1to resist
2to fight
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
抗kàng(kang4)
The character 抗 (kàng) means 'to resist' or 'to fight against.' It is commonly used in contexts involving opposition or defiance, such as resisting authority or fighting against an illness. The term has a strong connotation of courage and determination.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#4052DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of resistance is often celebrated in historical contexts, such as the resistance against foreign invasions. The term is prevalent in discussions about social justice and activism, reflecting the resilience of the people.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong warrior with a shield (the character's left side radical) standing firm against a storm (the right side represents movement against something). This visual of resistance helps connect the character's meaning to its pronunciation, 'kàng,' which sounds like 'kangaroo,' a creature that stands strong in the face of challenges.
Meanings of 抗
kàng(kang4)
1to resist
2to fight
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 抗 means.
About 抗
抗Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4052Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 抗
Podcast: 抗
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 抗
Quick Contrast
抗 (kàng) vs 反 (fǎn) — use 抗 when emphasizing resistance or defiance, while 反 focuses on opposition or counteraction.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'kàng' is pronounced with a fourth tone, which can be confused with other tones leading to misinterpretation. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health (抗病) or social movements (抗议). Common collocations include 抗争 (kàngzhēng, to struggle against) and 抗击 (kàngjī, to fight against).
HSK Study Tips
Although 抗 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with other verbs of action and resistance found in the HSK curriculum. Students should focus on practicing its usage in sentences, especially in combination with nouns to form phrases like 抗击病毒 (fight against viruses).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抗 with similar-sounding words like 亢 (kàng), which means 'high' or 'excessive.' For example, saying 抗高 instead of 抗病 is incorrect; the correct term for 'resist illness' is 抗病.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抗
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 抗 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 抗 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 抗?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 抗 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 抗 (kàng) means 'to resist' or 'to fight against.' It is commonly used in contexts involving opposition or defiance, such as resisting authority or fighting against an illness. The term has a strong connotation of courage and determination.
When to use 抗
Be cautious with the tone; 'kàng' is pronounced with a fourth tone, which can be confused with other tones leading to misinterpretation. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health (抗病) or social movements (抗议). Common collocations include 抗争 (kàngzhēng, to struggle against) and 抗击 (kàngjī, to fight against).
抗 or something close to it
抗 (kàng) vs 反 (fǎn) — use 抗 when emphasizing resistance or defiance, while 反 focuses on opposition or counteraction.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 抗 with similar-sounding words like 亢 (kàng), which means 'high' or 'excessive.' For example, saying 抗高 instead of 抗病 is incorrect; the correct term for 'resist illness' is 抗病.
Write 抗
抗
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 抗 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 抗
抗 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
