How to say "quarrel" in Japanese

• 喧嘩けんかJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe broadest of these words: a fight or brawl as much as a verbal quarrel, extending down to a squabble. Use it when the quarrel may turn physical, or simply for a fight.
  ケンとけんかしたのか。↗

  Did you have a fight with Ken?
• 口論こうろんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA quarrel or row conducted in words — an argument or verbal dispute, with no suggestion of physical fighting. Use it for a heated exchange of words.
  私わたしたちはまた昨夜さくやまた口論こうろんをした。↗

  We had words again last night.
• 諍いいさかいCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA quarrel or dispute, with an air of discord about it; it names the quarreling itself rather than one particular heated scene, and sits near 口論 and 口喧嘩 in sense.
  いさかいで私わたしたちの融和ゆうわが壊こわれた。↗

  Quarrelling spoiled our unity.
• 口喧嘩くちげんかCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA quarrel carried on entirely in words — what you would call a shouting match. It spells out that the fighting is verbal rather than physical, and in sense it sits close to 口論.
  仲なかたがいをした原因げんいんは口くちげんかであった。↗

  A quarrel brought about the break.
• いざこざCommon
  nounTrouble or friction between people: minor difficulties and complications rather than a head-on quarrel. The quarrels it covers are the petty kind; for a serious argument, another word serves better.
  たとえばあなたの家庭かていのいざこざを考かんがえてごらんなさい。↗

  Take, for instance, your family problems.

Use 喧嘩 for a fight, whether verbal or physical, 口論 or 口喧嘩 for a quarrel fought purely in words, 「諍い」 for a dispute tinged with discord, and 「いざこざ」 for minor friction rather than an outright quarrel.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 喧嘩けんかquarrel
• 口論こうろんquarrel
• 諍いいさかいquarrel
• 口喧嘩くちげんかquarrel
• いざこざtrouble
• 争議そうぎdispute
• トラブルtrouble
• 争いあらそいfight
• 競合きょうごうcontention
• 紛糾ふんきゅうcomplication
• やりあうto compete with
• 揉め事もめごとquarrel
• 言い合いいいあいquarrel
• 言い争ういいあらそうto quarrel
• 揉めもめquarrel
• いがみ合いいがみあいquarrel
• 諍ういさかうto quarrel
• 悶着もんちゃくtrouble
• 仲違いなかたがいfalling out (with)
• バトるto battle
• 鬩ぐせめぐto be mutually bitter
• 口舌の争いこうぜつのあらそいwar of words
• ごたごたtrouble
• 争うあらそうto quarrel
• 言い合ういいあうto quarrel
• 騒動そうどうfeud
• 渦中かちゅう(in the middle of a) scandal
• 衝突しょうとつclash
• いがみ合ういがみあうto quarrel
• 擦れ合うすれあうto quarrel
• 風波ふうはdiscord
• 論判ろんぱんargument
• 小競り合いこぜりあいsquabble
• 出入りでいりfight