Definitions

(noun) enemy; opponent
(verb) to rival; to match; to resist

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 敌 originates from the traditional form 敵, which combines the component 啇 with the radical 攵, the latter suggesting action or force, and initially conveyed the idea of being equal to or matching another, often in a confrontational sense. Over centuries, its meaning narrowed from general opposition to specifically denote an enemy or foe. The simplified form 敌 replaces 啇 with 舌, resulting in a structure composed of 舌 and 攵, representing a graphical alteration that maintains the core meaning of adversary.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们有人。

Wǒ men yǒu dí rén.

We have enemies.

机在空中飞行。

Dí jī zài kōng zhōng fēi xíng.

Enemy aircraft are flying in the sky.

他对我们怀有意。

Tā duì wǒ men huái yǒu dí yì.

He harbors hostility towards us.

两国处于对状态。

Liǎng guó chǔ yú dí duì zhuàng tài.

The two countries are in a state of hostility.

士兵们正在侦察情。

Shì bīng men zhèng zài zhēn chá dí qíng.

The soldiers are scouting the enemy situation.

在比赛中,他遇到了强大的手。

Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā yù dào le qiáng dà de dí shǒu.

In the competition, he encountered a powerful opponent.

尽管有视的态度,他们还是进行了对话。

Jǐn guǎn yǒu dí shì de tài dù, tā men hái shì jìn xíng le duì huà.

Despite the hostile attitude, they still held a dialogue.

为了战胜人,我们必须团结一致。

Wèi le zhàn shèng dí rén, wǒ men bì xū tuán jié yī zhì.

In order to defeat the enemy, we must unite as one.