抵 (dǐ) means 'to push against' or 'to oppose', while 挡 (dǎng) means 'to block' or 'to shield'. Together, 抵挡 expresses the idea of actively resisting or withstanding an external force — whether physical (like wind or an attack), emotional (like pressure or temptation), or abstract (like criticism or hardship). It emphasizes effort and defense rather than passive endurance.

This verb is commonly used in formal writing, news reports, and spoken language when describing resilience or opposition. It often appears with objects indicating what is being resisted (e.g., 寒冷, 攻击, 压力) and frequently pairs with auxiliary verbs like 能 (can), 无法 (cannot), or 成功 (successfully). While it can describe literal blocking (e.g., a wall抵挡 bullets), its most frequent use is figurative — highlighting human agency in facing challenges.