HSK 7, ng, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
match
HSK 7, ng, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
to resist
HSK 7, ng, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
to withstand
HSK 7, ng, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
enemy, foe, rival; to match; to resist
HSK 7, ng, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
to be a match for
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
敌
dí
to rival
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 舌, rank #6366, Hard
dí(di2) T2
1enemy
2match
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
敌(敵)dí(di2)
The character 敌 (dí) primarily means 'enemy' or 'foe,' often used in contexts involving conflict or competition. It can also imply the idea of resisting or withstanding something, making it relevant in discussions about challenges or rivalries.
Strokes10Radical舌Frequency#6366DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of '敌' is deeply rooted in Chinese history, often reflecting the importance of understanding one's adversaries, as seen in classic texts like 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, which emphasizes strategy in dealing with enemies.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'dizzy' fighter facing an enemy in battle. The character 敌 looks like a 'd' and a 'g' combined, representing 'defiance' against an opponent. Visualize this fighter standing firm against their opponent, embodying the concept of resistance.
Meanings of 敌
dí(di2)
1enemy
2match
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 敌
敌Simplified
敵Traditional
10Strokes
舌Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#6366Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 敌
Podcast: 敌
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AI Study Notes for 敌
Quick Contrast
对手 (duìshǒu, opponent) — use 敌 (dí) when emphasizing enmity or hostility, while 对手 (duìshǒu) is more neutral and focuses on competition.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'dizzy' fighter facing an enemy in battle. The character 敌 looks like a 'd' and a 'g' combined, representing 'defiance' against an opponent. Visualize this fighter standing firm against their opponent, embodying the concept of resistance.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; '敌' has a second tone (dí), which can easily be confused with other similar-sounding words. It's commonly used in military, sports, and competitive contexts, and often appears in phrases like '敌人' (enemy) and '与敌对抗' (to resist the enemy).
HSK Study Tips
While not currently in the HSK vocabulary list, understanding 敌 can enhance your comprehension of Chinese literature and contemporary discussions about conflict. Focus on its usage in common phrases and the context of resistance.
Cultural Note
The concept of '敌' is deeply rooted in Chinese history, often reflecting the importance of understanding one's adversaries, as seen in classic texts like 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, which emphasizes strategy in dealing with enemies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敌 with similar-sounding characters like 死 (sǐ), which means 'to die.' For example, saying '我很敌' (wǒ hěn dí) mistakenly instead of '我很敌人' (wǒ hěn dírén) to mean 'I have many enemies' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敌
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Grammar Patterns of 敌
敌 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
总统谈及了____人的奸诈用心。
The President spoke of the treacherous intentions of the enemy.
Common Confusions with 敌
敌vs抵
dǐ
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "enemy"?
or
Example Sentences for 敌 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
总统谈及了敌人的奸诈用心。
zǒng tǒng tán jí le dí rén de jiān zhà yòng xīn。
The President spoke of the treacherous intentions of the enemy.
The crisis is rooted in deep rivalries between the two groups.
Cultural Notes for 敌
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of '敌' is deeply rooted in Chinese history, often reflecting the importance of understanding one's adversaries, as seen in classic texts like 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu, which emphasizes strategy in dealing with enemies.
Word Family of 敌
Words Containing This Character20
敌人dírénenemy敵人
敌díenemy敵
无敌wúdíunequalled無敵
敌军enemy troops敵軍
敌对hostile敵對
敌意enmity敵意
敌方enemy敵方
敌机enemy plane敵機
杀敌to attack the enemy殺敵
敌视díshìhostile敵視
情敌rival in love情敵
势均力敌evenly matched (idiom)勢均力敵
天敌predator天敵
敌手opponent敵手
公敌public enemy公敵
树敌to antagonize people樹敵
死敌mortal enemy死敵
仇敌enemy仇敵
劲敌formidable opponent勁敵
匹敌rival匹敵
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 敌人 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敌
The character 敌 is pronounced as 'dí' in Mandarin. The tone is the second tone, which is a rising tone. You can practice by saying it in phrases to get comfortable with its pronunciation.
Some common phrases that include 敌 (dí) are '敌人' (dírén), which means 'enemy,' and '敌视' (díshì), meaning 'to view as an enemy.' These phrases are often used in discussions about competition or conflict.
You can use 敌 (dí) in a sentence to refer to an opponent, for example: '我们要打败敌人' (wǒmen yào dǎbài dírén) which means 'We must defeat the enemy.' It can also be used in expressions like '敌不过' (díbùguò), meaning 'to be no match for.'
敌 (dí) means 'enemy' in Chinese. It can also imply being a match for someone or something, as well as resisting or withstanding an opponent. The character is often used in contexts related to conflict or rivalry.
You can say '敌人来了' (The enemy is coming) to express a situation involving conflict.
Yes, you can also use 对手 (duìshǒu) which means rival or opponent, often in a competitive context.
Absolutely! It can refer to any kind of rivalry, such as in sports or business competition.
