口論|こうろんkouron[1]atamadaka (head-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbquarrel; argument; row; (verbal) dispute
    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.
Conjugation
Dictionary form口論する(こうろんする)
Polite (masu)口論します(こうろんします)
Negative (nai)口論しない(こうろんしない)
polite (masen)口論しません(こうろんしません)
classical zu / nu口論せず・口論せぬ(こうろんせず・こうろんせぬ)
Past (ta)口論した(こうろんした)
polite (mashita)口論しました(こうろんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)口論しなかった(こうろんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)口論しませんでした(こうろんしませんでした)
Te form口論して(こうろんして)
Potential口論できる(こうろんできる)
Passive口論される(こうろんされる)
Causative口論させる(こうろんさせる)
Causative passive口論させられる(こうろんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)口論すれば(こうろんすれば)
tara口論したら(こうろんしたら)
Volitional口論しよう(こうろんしよう)
polite (mashou)口論しましょう(こうろんしましょう)
Imperative口論しろ(こうろんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym口喧嘩くちげんかCasualColloquial word for a verbal spat; stresses quarrelling with words alone, no blows, and can sound childish.
  • Synonym喧嘩けんかCasualColloquial; quarrels and fights, blows included, so broader in scope than 「口論」.
  • Synonym舌戦ぜっせんFormalFormal; a war of words, stressing fierce debate, used mostly of polemical contests.
  • Synonym争いあらそいNeutralDisputes and strife in a broad sense; widely used, not confined to verbal exchanges.
  • Synonym諍いいさかいNeutralQuarrels and discord, as in 「家族の諍い」; slightly literary in flavor.
  • Synonym言い争いいいあらそいNeutralNoun for a quarrel; almost synonymous with 「口論」.
  • Synonym言い合いいいあいNeutralArguing back and forth, each side pressing its own point; close to 「口論」 but more casual.
  • Synonym口争いくちあらそいNeutralA quarrel; less common, much like 「口喧嘩」, stressing verbal conflict.
  • Related論争ろんそうWrittenWritten/formal prose; disputes over academic, political or social issues, stressing reasoned debate rather than a quarrel.
  • Related論戦ろんせんWrittenWritten/formal prose; a battle of words, stressing debate on a contested stage, with more reasoned argument.
  • Related争うあらそうNeutralBroad verb covering contesting and quarrelling; the widest in use, not limited to words.
  • Related言い争ういいあらそうNeutralVerb meaning to quarrel; the verbal counterpart of the noun 「口論」, casual in tone.
  • RelatedやりあうCasualColloquial; to clash with someone, stressing that neither side gives in; can even turn physical.
  • Related諍ういさかうWrittenWritten/formal verb meaning to quarrel; archaic in flavor and rarely used today.
  • Antonym仲直りなかなおりCasualColloquial; making up and getting back on good terms — the opposite of quarrelling 「口論」.
  • Antonym和睦わぼくWrittenWritten/formal prose; ending a dispute and reconciling — the opposite of quarrelling 「口論」.

「口論」 is for a purely verbal quarrel with no blows; it leans written and is common in news reports, as in 「口論の末」. In speech, say 「口喧嘩」 or 「言い合い」; if blows are involved, 「喧嘩」; for debate over an issue, 「論争」. The opposite is 「仲直り」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 言葉ことばで争論そうろんすること。言い合いいあい。口争くちあらそい。
  2. 言葉ことばで争論そうろんする。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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