敵 (dí) - Enemy, foe, opponent & to oppose, to resist

敵Tone 2

dí ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

敵 · dí

Enemy, foe, opponent;

to oppose, to resist;

equal, match.

Enemy, foe, opponentto oppose, to resistequal, match.

Usage highlights

EnemyEnemy armyOpponentHostileEnemy spyInvincible

Synonyms

  • 仇— Enemy, foe (often with personal hatred)
  • 对手— Opponent, adversary

Antonyms

  • 友— Friend, ally
  • 我— Self, our side

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The two armies are enemies (敌军).
  • He is my opponent in the debate (辩论的敌手).
  • This force is irresistible (势不可敌).
  • They are evenly matched (势均力敌).

Collocations

  • Enemy(敌人)
  • Enemy army(敌军)
  • Opponent(敌手)
  • Hostile(敌对)
  • Enemy spy(敌特)
  • Enemy-occupied area(敌占区)

Idioms

  • To despise the enemy strategically while taking them seriously tactically(战略上藐视敌人，战术上重视敌人)
  • To be invincible(所向无敌)
  • Evenly matched(势均力敌)
  • To join forces against a common enemy(同仇敌忾)
  • To consider everyone as an enemy(举世为敌)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese military strategy, understanding one's enemy is considered essential for victory.
  • The concept appears in Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' emphasizing the importance of knowing both yourself and your enemy.
  • In modern context, it's often used in competitive situations beyond military contexts.

FAQ