揉め合う

• Reading: もめあう
• Romaji: momeau
• Kanji breakdown: 揉 (jū/mo) — to knead, to become tangled in conflict; 合 (gō/a) — mutual, together
• Pronunciation: /mo.me.a.ɯ/

Meaning

To quarrel; to dispute; to be in ongoing conflict; to wrangle with each other.

A Group 1 (godan) verb combining 揉める (to be embroiled in conflict) and 合う (to do mutually). Describes a mutual, back-and-forth dispute between two or more parties. 揉める alone is more common in conversation; 揉め合う adds the nuance of sustained, bilateral friction. Frequently found in legal, family, or business dispute contexts.

Examples

1. 兄弟が遺産の分配を巡って揉め合っている。 The siblings are quarreling over the distribution of the inheritance.
2. 隣人と境界線の件で長年揉め合ってきた。 I've been wrangling with my neighbor over the property line for years.
3. 会社と組合が待遇改善をめぐって揉め合った末に合意した。 The company and the union reached an agreement after a prolonged dispute over improved working conditions.

Usage Guide

Context: disputes, family, legal, labour relations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 揉める (to become embroiled in a dispute — from 揉む, to knead/rub) and 合う (to do together, mutually). The image of two sides rubbing against each other serves as a metaphor for sustained conflict.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal