1.
consistency; coherence; logical connection
Whether the parts of a story, argument, or explanation fit together logically. Almost always used in the set phrase 辻褄が合う (to be consistent) or 辻褄を合わせる (to make things consistent).
彼の話は辻褄が合わない。
His story doesn't add up.
無理に辻褄を合わせようとしても、すぐにばれる。
Even if you try to force the story to be consistent, people will see through it right away.
証言の辻褄が合っているかどうか、もう一度確認する必要がある。
We need to check once more whether the testimony is consistent.
Rarely used alone — almost always appears in set phrases. The word comes from sewing terminology: 辻 (crossroads/seam intersection) + 褄 (hem), referring to whether seams line up properly at their meeting points.
KEY PATTERNS:
- 辻褄が合う (to be consistent, to add up)
- 辻褄が合わない (to be inconsistent, not add up)
- 辻褄を合わせる (to make things consistent, to reconcile)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 話の辻褄 (consistency of a story)
- 辻褄の合わない説明 (an inconsistent explanation)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 整合性: consistency, coherence (formal, technical)
- 筋が通る: to make sense, to be logical (focuses on overall logic rather than specific matching)