敵かたき

か

た

き

Meanings

1

Refers to a rival, opponent, or enemy, especially one with longstanding enmity. When used as a suffix, it is often pronounced がたき (e.g., 商売敵しょうばいがたき 'business rival').

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の敵かたきを討うつto avenge someone (by defeating the person who wronged them)
父ちちの敵かたきを討うつために剣けんの修しゅ行ぎょうを続つづけた。
He kept training with the sword in order to avenge his father.
〈人ひと〉を敵かたきに回まわすto turn someone into an enemy
そんな言いい方かたをしたら、みんなを敵かたきに回まわすことになるよ。
If you talk like that, you'll end up making everyone your enemy.

Expressions

目めの敵かたきobject of hatred; someone viewed with hostility
目めの敵かたきにするhate the very sight of; hold a grudge against; treat as an enemy; have it in for
江え戸どの敵かたきを長なが崎さきで討うつto take revenge in an unexpected place or context; to hit someone where they least expect it

Kanji

敵enemy, foe, opponent
仇foe, enemy, revenge

Related words

仇あだ
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.
敵てきN2
仇 is a more literary or dramatic word for a mortal enemy, often used in stories of revenge, whereas 敵 is the everyday general term.

Opposites

味み方かたN3sense 1
敵 (かたき) means an enemy or rival, while 味方 (みかた) means an ally or supporter on one's own side.

Don't confuse with

敵てきN2sense 1
Written with the same kanji, 敵 read てき is the neutral, everyday word for 'enemy' or 'opponent', whereas 敵 read かたき carries a stronger sense of personal grudge or long-term rivalry.

Counted with

人にん
For people, including opponents in some contexts, but this noun is usually not counted with a standard object counter.

Word family

敵かたき役やく
villain role; antagonist; bad guy
敵かたき討うち
revenge; vengeance; retaliation
恋こい敵がたき
rival in love
商しょう売ばい敵がたき
business rival; competitor

Written forms

敵かたき
Standard kanji spelling for the reading かたき.
カタキUsage100%
仇かたき
Alternate kanji spelling, often used in the context of revenge or longstanding enmity.

Etymology

The reading かたき is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 敵 and 仇 are both used to represent the concept of an enemy or rival.

碁ご敵がたき

rival in go; go opponent