Refers to a personal enemy or rival, often with a sense of long-standing opposition. Common in phrases like 仇を討つ (avenge one's enemy).
Focuses on the feeling of ill will or a grudge held against someone. Often used in expressions like 仇を返す (return a grudge) or 仇になる (become a source of resentment).
Used when something intended to be good ends up causing harm or damage. Common in the set phrase 仇となる (to do more harm than good).
He set out on a journey to avenge his father's enemy.
She unexpectedly met an old rival again.
He couldn't forget the long-held grudge.
His kindness backfired and turned into resentment.
Overprotection can sometimes harm a child.
Good intentions backfired and caused a terrible situation.
He spent many years searching for his enemy in order to avenge his father.
He intended to get back at them for their past treatment of him.
敵 is the general, common word for an enemy or opponent, while 仇 carries a stronger nuance of personal vengeance or a long-held grudge.
恨み names the feeling of resentment or a grudge itself, while 仇 can refer to either that feeling or the person who is its target.
仇敵 is a more literary, formal compound for a sworn enemy, whereas 仇 is the plainer word used in everyday phrases like 仇を討つ.
怨恨 is a formal, often legal or journalistic term for deep-seated grudge, while 仇 is the everyday word with the same sense of enmity.
敵 (かたき) is the common word for a personal rival or long-standing enemy, while 仇 (あだ) is more literary and emphasizes a grudge or wrong done that calls for revenge.
味方 means an ally or friend, the direct opposite of 仇 as a personal enemy or rival.
恩 means a debt of gratitude or kindness, contrasting with 仇 as a grudge or ill will, as seen in 恩を仇で返す.
恩人 is someone who did you a great kindness, while 仇 is someone who wronged or harmed you, the two often contrasted in the phrase 恩を仇で返す.
徒 read as あだ is a classical word meaning 'vain' or 'fleeting', unrelated in meaning to 仇 despite the identical pronunciation and similar look.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses. High frequency in news and general usage.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji is broad or not important.
Rare variant kanji for 'enemy' or 'invader', mostly in historical or literary contexts.
Rare variant kanji associated with 'revenge' or 'enmity', seldom used in modern Japanese.
Rare variant kanji for 'bandit' or 'rebel', not the usual spelling for these senses.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 仇 is conventionally associated with the meanings 'enemy', 'grudge', and 'harm'.