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目の敵 (めのかたき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, noun
object of hatred ; someone viewed with hostility
Almost always used in the pattern 目の敵にする, meaning to treat someone as an enemy or to be hostile toward them. The noun itself refers to the person who is the target of such feelings.
See also: 目の敵にする
遅ち
刻こく
する
生せい
徒と
を
目め
の
敵かたき
に
する
。
That teacher is hostile toward students who are late.
Similar words 敵かたき 敵 is a general word for 'enemy' or 'rival'. 目の敵 specifically refers to someone one personally hates or is hostile toward, often in a more emotional or biased way.
憎にく む 憎む is a verb meaning 'to hate'. 目の敵にする is a set phrase that implies active hostility or picking on someone, not just a feeling of hatred.
Etymology Literally 'enemy of the eye', a metaphorical expression for someone one cannot stand the sight of. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely developed from the idea of viewing someone as a personal foe.
