犬けん猿えん

noun

dogs and monkeys; cats and dogs

Bound form used almost exclusively in the idiom 犬猿の仲 (けんえんのなか), meaning a relationship of mutual hatred like cats and dogs. The literal gloss 'dogs and monkeys' reflects the Japanese animal pair, while 'cats and dogs' is the English cultural equivalent for a bad relationship.

See also: 犬猿の仲

• あの二人ふたりは犬けん猿えんの仲なかだ。