抗衡
kàng héng · HSK 7
to compete with; to vie with
⚖️ 抗 resist + 衡 balancing-scale = push back hard enough to hold even, contend against
抗 means resist or oppose; 衡 is a weighing-scale, hence balance or equal footing. Together: to resist with enough force to stay level with a rival, i.e. contend against on equal terms.