犬けん猿えんの仲なか

け

ん

え

ん

の

な

か

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

expression, noun

like cats and dogs; on very bad terms

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression describing a relationship of extreme mutual hostility, like that between dogs and monkeys. Often used in the pattern 〜の仲だ/である.

あの二人ふたりは犬けん猿えんの仲なかで、

顔かお

を

合あ

わせる

たび

に

喧けん

嘩か

に

なる

。

Those two are like cats and dogs; they fight every time they see each other.

営えい業ぎょう部ぶと開かい発はつ部ぶは犬けん猿えんの仲なかだと言いわれている。

The sales department and the development department are said to be on very bad terms.

Kanji

犬dog
猿monkey
仲go-between, relationship

Related words

仲なかが悪わるい
仲が悪い is a plain, general way to say two people are on bad terms, while 犬猿の仲 is a vivid idiom implying deep, almost irreconcilable hostility.
水みずと油あぶら
水と油 describes things or people that simply don't mix well, often due to incompatible personalities, whereas 犬猿の仲 specifically points to active mutual hostility.

Opposites

仲なか良よしN3
仲良し describes people who are close friends and get along well, the opposite of the bitter rivalry implied by 犬猿の仲.

Built from

犬けん猿えん+仲なか

Etymology

Literally 'the relationship of dogs and monkeys,' from the traditional belief that dogs and monkeys are natural enemies. The exact origin is uncertain, but the phrase has been used idiomatically in Japanese for centuries.