食い違い

• Reading: くいちがい
• Romaji: kuichigai
• Kanji breakdown: 食 (kui/shoku) — eat, bite; 違 (chigai/i) — differ, be wrong
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.i.tɕi.ɡa.i/

Meaning

Difference; disagreement; discrepancy; conflict. A gap between two things that should align but don't.

A noun derived from the verb 食い違う (kuichigau, to clash/differ). Describes situations where two accounts, opinions, or facts don't match. Commonly used in contexts like 証言の食い違い (shougen no kuichigai, discrepancy in testimony), 意見の食い違い (iken no kuichigai, difference of opinion). More concrete and specific than 矛盾 (mujun, contradiction).

Examples

1. 二人の証言に食い違いがあった。 There was a discrepancy between the two witnesses' testimonies.
2. 意見の食い違いが原因で計画が進まない。 A difference of opinion is preventing the plan from moving forward.
3. データに食い違いが見つかって調査が必要になった。 A discrepancy was found in the data, so an investigation became necessary.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, workplace, interpersonal

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From the verb 食い違う (kuichigau): 食い (kui, biting/interlocking, from 食う to eat/bite) + 違う (chigau, to differ). Originally described teeth or gears that don't mesh properly — extended to abstract misalignment.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal