敵 means “enemy, rival”

てき · teki

Also: foe, opponent

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

かたき, あだ, かなう

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

テキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 15 strokes

The story

A hand with a stick (攵) raised beside 啇: picture squaring up to a rival your own size. 敵 is an enemy or opponent, 無敵 is invincible, 匹敵 is being a match for someone, and 素敵, lovely, borrows it just for the sound.

Used in 敵 (teki, enemy), 無敵 (muteki, invincible), and 素敵 (suteki, lovely)

More from Attack & Conquer

• 征 conquer
• 虜 captive
• 伐 cut down
• 撃 strike
• 討 attack
• 攻 attack
• 狙 aim at
• 闘 fight
• 衝 collide
• 奪 snatch
• 挑 challenge
• 侵 invade

Learn 敵 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.