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仇敌 (chóu dí) — enemy

Definition

A formal, written word for 'enemy' that emphasizes a deep personal hatred, not just opposition. Stronger and more literary than 敌人, which is the everyday term.

noun
enemy
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 仇敌。
    Wǒ men yào jǐng tì wǒ men de chóu dí.
    We must be vigilant against our enemies.
  • 仇敌。
    Zhè chǎng zhàn zhēng ràng tā men chéng wéi le chóu dí.
    This war made them become enemies.
  • 仇敌，。
    Tā shì wǒ wèi chóu dí, dàn wǒ bìng bú hèn tā.
    He sees me as an enemy, but I don't hate him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

仇chóuenemy
敌díenemy

仇 'enemy' and 敌 'enemy' reinforce the idea of a foe.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ仇⁰qiú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

仇 has 亻, a person, and 九, which gives the sound.

Open 仇 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 敵; 敌 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pūto tap; to hit
Sound part声符shēngfú
啻
啻chì敵dí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 敵 pairs 啻 as a sound part with 攴, a part for tapping or hitting.

Open 敌 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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