()()わせ

かみあわせ
noun
bite (dental); occlusion; engagement (of gears)
1. bite; dental occlusion; alignment of upper and lower teeth
The way the upper and lower teeth fit together when the mouth is closed. A common dental term.
()()わせが(わる)い。
I have a bad bite.
歯医者(はいしゃ)()()わせを調(しら)べてもらった。
I had the dentist check my bite.
()()わせがずれていると、頭痛(ずつう)(かた)こりの原因(げんいん)になることがある。
If your bite is misaligned, it can cause headaches and shoulder stiffness.
2. meshing; engagement (of gears or interlocking parts)
By extension, the fit or engagement of any two parts that mesh together, such as gear teeth. Also used figuratively for how two parties or arguments line up.
歯車(はぐるま)()()わせを確認(かくにん)する。
Check the engagement of the gears.
二人(ふたり)意見(いけん)()()わせが(わる)く、議論(ぎろん)(すす)まなかった。
The two people's opinions didn't mesh well, and the discussion didn't move forward.
機械(きかい)部品(ぶひん)()()わせを(こま)かく調整(ちょうせい)した。
I carefully adjusted how the machine parts mesh together.

Noun form of ()()う (to mesh, to bite into each other). The dental sense is the most everyday use; the mechanical sense is common in engineering contexts.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ()()わせが(わる)い: have a bad bite; not mesh well
  • ()()わせを(なお)す: correct one's bite
  • ()()わせを調整(ちょうせい)する: adjust the alignment / engagement
  • 歯車(はぐるま)()()わせ: meshing of gears

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ()()う: to mesh, to bite together — the verb form
  • 歯並(はなら)び: dental alignment — focuses on how teeth are arranged in a row, not how they meet