敵う

• Reading: かなう
• Romaji: kanau
• Kanji breakdown: 敵 (teki/kana) — enemy, rival, match
• Pronunciation: /ka.na.ɯ/

Meaning

To match; to rival; to be a match for. Usually used in the negative to mean 'cannot compete with.'

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb almost always used in negative form (敵わない). Expresses being unable to compete with or match someone or something. Despite sharing the reading かなう with 叶う (to come true), 敵う specifically means matching in strength or ability. The kanji 敵 means enemy or opponent, reflecting the competitive nuance.

Examples

1. この暑さにはどうしても敵わない。 There's just no beating this heat.
2. 経験豊富な先輩には敵わないと思った。 I thought I was no match for my more experienced senior.
3. 母の手料理にはどんなレストランも敵わない。 No restaurant can compete with my mom's home cooking.

Usage Guide

Context: comparison, competition, daily life

Tone: resigned

Origin & History

Uses the kanji 敵 (enemy, rival), connecting to the idea of facing an opponent. The verb form かなう originally meant to match or equal, but modern usage is predominantly negative — expressing inability to match.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal