Refers to an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal. Often used in the phrase 餌食になる (to become prey).
The lion made the zebra its prey.
Used figuratively for a person who falls victim to a crime, scam, or misfortune. Often appears as 餌食になる.
He fell victim to a scam.
The small fish became prey to the larger fish.
小魚は大きな魚の餌食になる。
Small fish become prey for larger fish.
Many people became victims of that fraudulent business practice.
He ended up falling victim to a scam.
The unscrupulous businesses prey on elderly people.
犠牲 broadly means a sacrifice or casualty in any misfortune, while 餌食 specifically frames the person as something consumed or exploited by a predator-like force.
被害者 is the neutral, formal legal term for a victim, whereas 餌食 adds a vivid image of being preyed upon or devoured.
餌食 is a more literary word for a victim or prey, often implying being consumed or sacrificed, while 食い物 in this sense is a more common, blunt expression for someone being exploited.
鴨 (in its figurative sense) is casual slang for someone easily cheated or beaten, especially in gambling or scams, while 餌食 is a more literary word for a victim or prey of exploitation in general.
餌食 means 'prey' or 'victim,' describing the target that falls for the 餌 (bait or enticement).
餌 just means bait or feed given to an animal, while 餌食 means the creature or person that ends up being consumed or victimized.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity or emphasis.
Formed from 餌 and 食, originally denoting food for an animal and hence prey or a victim consumed by another.