食(く)い違(ちが)い

くいちがい
noun
discrepancy, disagreement
abstractcommunication
1. discrepancy, inconsistency, mismatch
A difference or contradiction between two things that should match. Used for statements, records, or accounts that don't align.
証言(しょうげん)に食(く)い違(ちが)いがある。
There are discrepancies in the testimony.
数字(すうじ)の食(く)い違(ちが)いを確認(かくにん)する。
Confirm the discrepancy in the numbers.
記録(きろく)と実際(じっさい)の数(かず)に食(く)い違(ちが)いがあったので、調査(ちょうさ)が始(はじ)まった。
There was a discrepancy between the records and the actual count, so an investigation began.
2. disagreement, conflict of opinion
A situation where people have different views or opinions on something.
意見(いけん)の食(く)い違(ちが)いがある。
There's a disagreement in opinion.
方針(ほうしん)をめぐって食(く)い違(ちが)いが生(しょう)じた。
A disagreement arose over the policy.
両者(りょうしゃ)の間(あいだ)には根本的(こんぽんてき)な食(く)い違(ちが)いがあり、解決(かいけつ)は難(むずか)しい。
There's a fundamental disagreement between the two parties, making resolution difficult.

食(く)い違(ちが)い is the noun form of the verb 食(く)い違(ちが)う (to not match, to be at odds). It describes situations where things that should align — statements, numbers, opinions — do not.

Forms

食(く)い (stem of 食(く)う, to bite) + 違(ちが)い (difference) — the image is of teeth not meshing properly.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 矛盾(むじゅん): contradiction (stronger — implies logical impossibility)
  • 相違(そうい): difference (formal/written; neutral, not implying something is wrong)
  • ずれ: gap, misalignment (often for timing or positioning)

Related Words

Related: 食(く)い違(ちが)う (verb form)
Synonym: 齟齬(そご) (discrepancy (formal))
Compare: 矛盾(むじゅん) (contradiction (stronger)
Compare: 相違(そうい) (difference (formal/written)
Compare: ずれ (gap, misalignment)
Related: 行(い)き違(ちが)い (misunderstanding)
Compare: 不一致(ふいっち) (discrepancy)
Compare: 矛盾点(むじゅんてん) (point of contradiction)
general
Added 2026.2.1 16:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
09000/09342_kuichigai