对手

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Character Breakdown

Understanding 对手 (duìshǒu)

The word 对手 primarily means "opponent" or "competitor" and is commonly used in contexts involving competition, such as sports, business, or debates. It refers to the person or team you are directly competing against.

Usage and Nuance

When you use 对手, you emphasize the relationship of rivalry or competition. It can be used for both friendly and serious competition. For example, in sports, your 对手 is the opposing team or player. In work or business, it refers to competitors vying for the same goals.

Common Collocations

  • 对手 (duìshǒu hěn qiáng): the opponent is strong — used to describe the difficulty of the competition.
  • 主要对手 (zhǔyào duìshǒu): main competitor — often used in business or professional contexts.
  • 了解对手 (liǎojiě duìshǒu): understand the opponent — important in strategy or debate.

Register and Tone

对手 is neutral and appropriate in formal and informal contexts. It is not derogatory but simply descriptive of the competitive relationship.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 对手 with 朋友 (friend) or 同事 (colleague). 对手 specifically implies competition or opposition, not cooperation or friendship.

Example Sentences

The opponent in this match is very strong; we must give it our all.

He is my main competitor at work; we often compete for the same projects.

In a debate, understanding the opponent’s viewpoint is very important.