‘仇人’ (chóu rén) literally combines ‘仇’ (chóu), meaning ‘grudge,’ ‘hatred,’ or ‘enmity,’ and ‘人’ (rén), meaning ‘person.’ Together, it refers to a person with whom one has deep-seated hostility—someone who is actively hated or considered an adversary due to past conflict, betrayal, or injury. Unlike the more neutral ‘对手’ (duìshǒu, ‘opponent’) or formal ‘敌人’ (dírén, ‘enemy’ in military/political contexts), ‘仇人’ carries strong emotional weight and implies personal, often long-standing, animosity.

This word appears frequently in literature, historical narratives, martial arts fiction, and everyday expressions of intense grievance. It’s rarely used in polite or professional speech, as it conveys bitterness and moral condemnation. While ‘仇’ alone can mean ‘grudge’ or ‘revenge,’ adding ‘人’ specifies the human agent of that enmity—making ‘仇人’ distinctly interpersonal and emotionally charged.