共とも食ぐい

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

cannibalism (in animals); feeding on each other

Literal sense: animals of the same species eating each other. Used as a noun or with する for the action.

• 金きん魚ぎょが共とも食ぐいを始はじめた。

  The goldfish started eating each other.

• この種しゅ類るいのクモはよく共とも食ぐいする。

  This type of spider often engages in cannibalism.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

cannibalization; mutually harmful competition; internecine struggle

Figurative extension: members of the same group or industry harming each other through excessive competition, often leading to mutual destruction. Common in business and political contexts.

• 値ね下さげ競きょう争そうは業ぎょう界かいの共とも食ぐいを招まねく。

  Price wars lead to cannibalization within the industry.

• 派は閥ばつ同どう士しの共とも食ぐいで組そ織しきが弱じゃく体たい化かした。

  The organization was weakened by internecine struggles among factions.