Sections
Teki (敵): what it means in anime
敵
てき · teki · opponent; rival; adversary JLPT N3
Teki means "enemy", "opponent" or "rival". Anime uses it for everything from an army to a chess partner, and 敵じゃない ("not an enemy") is a classic line of reassurance.
Where you hear it 5 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
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Code Geass · 14 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
弱さと怒りが 姿無き敵ですか
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No Game No Life · 10 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
敵王の首をはねなさい クイーン
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The Promised Neverland · 7 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
そう 考えるんだ 敵の立場で
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Vinland Saga · 7 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
このまま敵の2波目は受けきれん
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My Hero Academia · 5 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
5年前 敵の襲撃で負った傷だ
Usage and nuance
It covers any opposing side: 敵の攻撃 is "the enemy's attack", 敵に回す is "to turn someone into an enemy". In sports shows like Haikyu the other team is 敵 without any hatred implied.
The friend-or-foe question, 敵か味方か (teki ka mikata ka), is a stock line. 味方 (mikata) is "ally" and is worth learning in the same breath.
Compounds: 無敵 (muteki) is "invincible", literally "no enemy", and 宿敵 (shukuteki) is "arch-enemy".
Hear 敵 in Code Geass14 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account