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敵
teki
enemy
彼は私の敵だ
He is my enemy.
general
An opponent or adversary in a conflict, competition, or struggle.
敵を倒す
To defeat the enemy.
敵対する
To oppose or be hostile.
Can refer to a literal enemy in war or a metaphorical opponent in competition.
informal
A rival or competitor in a non-violent context, such as sports or business.
彼は私のビジネスの敵だ
He is my business rival.
Often used in a less literal sense to describe someone who is a strong competitor.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Metaphorical Use
In modern Japanese, '敵' is often used metaphorically to describe rivals or competitors in non-violent contexts, such as sports or business.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of '敵' can vary significantly depending on the context. In a military or war context, it refers to a literal enemy, while in sports or business, it can refer to a rival or competitor.
Word Origin
The kanji '敵' consists of '辶' (a radical indicating movement) and '敵' (originally meaning 'to oppose'). The character evolved to represent an opponent or adversary.
Usage Notes
While '敵' can refer to a literal enemy in war, it is also commonly used metaphorically to describe rivals in sports, business, or other competitive contexts. The tone can range from neutral to hostile depending on context.
Word Breakdown
辶
movement
radical敵
to oppose
root和英辞典