1.
archenemy, old rival, longtime nemesis
An enemy or rival with whom one has had a long-standing conflict or rivalry. Implies a deep, enduring opposition.
宿敵を倒す。
To defeat one's archenemy.
宿敵との対決がついに実現した。
The showdown with the longtime rival has finally come to pass.
二つのチームは長年の宿敵で、試合のたびにスタジアムは満員になる。
The two teams are longtime rivals, and the stadium is packed every time they play.
宿敵 combines 宿 (long-standing, old) and 敵 (enemy). The 宿 component implies something that has persisted over a long period.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 宿敵を倒す (to defeat one's archenemy)
- 宿敵との対決 (confrontation with a nemesis)
- 宿敵に勝つ (to triumph over a rival)
- 長年の宿敵 (longtime rival)
USAGE:
Used in sports, fiction, history, and politics to describe deeply rooted rivalries. It carries a dramatic, literary feel and is commonly seen in sports journalism and manga/anime narratives.