好こう敵てき手しゅ

こ

う

て

き

しゅ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

worthy opponent; worthy rival; good match

Refers to a competitor or adversary who is respected and considered a good match, often in sports, games, or professional rivalries. Carries a positive, respectful tone.

彼かれは私わたしにとって最さい高こうの好こう敵てき手しゅだ。
He is my greatest worthy opponent.
両りょうチームは長なが年ねんの好こう敵てき手しゅとして知しられている。
The two teams are known as long-time worthy rivals.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

好fond, pleasing, like something
敵enemy, foe, opponent
手hand

Related words

両りょう雄ゆう
好敵手 refers to a single well-matched rival from one person's viewpoint, whereas 両雄 names both outstanding figures together as a pair.
ライバルN3
好敵手 is a literary term for a worthy rival whose skill is respected, whereas ライバル is the everyday loanword used in casual and business contexts alike.
競きょう争そう相あい手てN3
好敵手 is a somewhat literary term for a worthy rival, while 競争相手 is the plain, everyday word for a competitor.
宿しゅく敵てき
好敵手 focuses on being a worthy, well-matched opponent, while 宿敵 emphasizes a bitter rivalry that has lasted a long time.
強きょう敵てき
好敵手 is a somewhat literary term for a worthy rival one respects, while 強敵 simply emphasizes that the opponent is dangerously strong.

Built from

好こう+敵てき手しゅ

Etymology

Compound of 好 (good, favorable) and 敵手 (opponent, rival). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with a respected adversary.