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The Chinese word 抵挡 (dǐdǎng), meaning "to resist" or "to withstand," is a typical example of a **synonymous compound** formed through the combination of two characters with closely related meanings. The first character, 抵 (dǐ), carries the core sense of "to resist" or "to oppose," while the second, 挡 (dǎng), means "to block" or "to obstruct." When paired, these two morphemes do not create a new meaning from disparate parts but instead reinforce and specify a single, stronger concept of **active defense or holding something at bay**. This formation follows a common pattern in Chinese where parallel verbs are joined to express a more complete or forceful action, resulting in a word whose meaning is the synergistic sum of its nearly identical components.

Word Definition - 抵挡

dǐ dǎng to resist; to hold back; to stop; to ward off; to withstand

Individual Character Details