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Kotomora

敵

enemy, foe, opponent

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • テキ

Kun'yomi

  • かたき
  • あだ
  • かな.う

Meaning

敵 centers on an opposing force in a conflict: an enemy, foe, or opponent in a struggle.

Most common words using 敵

20 of 124
  • 敵てき
    N2

    opponent; rival; adversary

  • 素敵すてき
    N4

    lovely; wonderful; charming; enchanting; nice; great; splendid; marvellous (marvelous); fantastic; superb

  • 無敵むてき

    invincible; unrivaled; unrivalled; matchless; unbeatable; undefeatable

  • 敵対てきたい
    N1

    hostility; antagonism; opposition

  • 匹敵ひってき
    N1

    to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with; to be equivalent to

  • 敵意てきい

    hostility; animosity; enmity

  • 強敵きょうてき

    formidable enemy; strong enemy; tough enemy

  • 天敵てんてき

    natural enemy

  • 敵視てきし

    looking upon (someone) as an enemy; regarding as an enemy; being hostile toward

  • 宿敵しゅくてき

    old enemy; longtime enemy; arch-enemy; traditional rival; longstanding foe

  • 敵国てきこく

    enemy nation

  • 索敵さくてき

    searching for the enemy

  • 敵陣てきじん

    enemy camp; enemy line

  • 不敵ふてき

    daring; fearless; intrepid; bold; tough

  • 目の敵めのかたき

    someone viewed with hatred; object of one's hostility

  • 敵艦てきかん

    enemy ship

  • 外敵がいてき

    foreign enemy; outside invader

  • 政敵せいてき

    political opponent

  • 敵役かたきやく

    role of the villain; the bad guy

  • 大敵たいてき

    great rival; powerful enemy; archenemy

Explore all words using 敵 →

Study

Etymology

敵 combines 啇 (a phonetic component carrying the sound) with 攵 (a hand holding a stick, suggesting action or force), together expressing the idea of an opponent or enemy.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 啇 looks like a standing figure with a mouth, and the right side 攵 is a hand with a stick. Imagine an enemy figure shouting and brandishing a weapon.

Reading mnemonic

For テキ, picture a tech-savvy enemy hacking your computer: tech -> テキ, and the enemy is attacking digitally.