敌人

• Pinyin: dí rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 敌 = 舌 (tongue) + 攵 (strike); simplified from 敵; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Enemy; foe; adversary. A person or group that is hostile and opposed to you.

Used in military, political, competitive, and figurative contexts. Can refer to real enemies in war or conflict, business rivals, or abstract enemies like disease or ignorance. In everyday conversation, it is sometimes used humorously or metaphorically to describe someone who consistently opposes you.

Examples

1. 在战争中，了解敌人的计划非常重要。 In war, understanding the enemy's plans is extremely important.
2. 最大的敌人往往不是别人，而是自己。 The greatest enemy is often not others, but yourself.
3. 他把所有的竞争对手都当成了敌人。 He treated all his competitors as enemies.

Usage Guide

Context: military, competition, metaphorical

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 我们要把困难当作敌人，勇敢地去面对。(We should treat difficulties as enemies and face them bravely.)
• 他在比赛中遇到了强大的敌人。(He encountered a powerful opponent in the competition.)

Don't Say

• 用敌人来称呼朋友之间的小矛盾 (Don't call someone your 敌人 over a minor disagreement between friends — it's too strong; use 对手 for rival or just describe the conflict)

Origin & History

敌 means enemy or to oppose, from 舌 (tongue, argument) and 攵 (action). 人 means person. Together, 'a person who opposes you.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal