犬猿

けんえん
noun
dog and monkey; bitter enemies
idiomperson
1. dog and monkey; (figuratively) two parties who get along badly
Literally "dog and monkey," animals proverbially said to fight on sight. Used almost exclusively in the idiom 犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか) to describe two people on extremely bad terms.
二人(ふたり)は犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか)だ。
The two of them are bitter enemies.
兄弟(きょうだい)なのに犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか)で、ほとんど話(はな)さない。
Although they are brothers, they are on terrible terms and hardly speak.
かつては犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか)だった両国(りょうこく)も、今(いま)では協力(きょうりょく)し合(あ)っている。
The two countries, once bitter rivals, now cooperate with each other.

Almost always appears in the set phrase 犬猿(けんえん)の仲(なか) ("on dog-and-monkey terms"), describing people who cannot get along. Rarely used alone.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 不仲(ふなか): discord — plain description of a poor relationship, without the vivid imagery

Related Words

Compare: 不仲(ふなか) (discord)
general
Added 2026.5.24 12:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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