Translation guide
The English word "dispute" covers a range of situations from formal disagreements to everyday arguments. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the context and nuance.
To refer to a dispute in a legal, political, business, or academic context, often involving opposing parties and a formal process.
The most common term for a formal dispute, such as a legal conflict, territorial dispute, or labor dispute. It implies a serious, often prolonged disagreement.
領土紛争が続いている。
The territorial dispute continues.
労働紛争を解決するために調停が行われた。
Mediation was conducted to resolve the labor dispute.
A dispute or controversy centered on intellectual, academic, or ideological arguments. Often used for debates or scholarly disagreements.
その理論については長年の論争がある。
There has been a long-standing dispute over that theory.
Specifically refers to a labor dispute or industrial action, such as a strike. Common in legal and union contexts.
労働争議が長期化している。
The labor dispute is becoming prolonged.
To describe a verbal disagreement between individuals, often emotional and informal.
A quarrel or verbal dispute. It implies a heated exchange of words, but not necessarily physical. Suitable for personal arguments.
彼らはお金のことで口論になった。
They got into a dispute over money.
口論の末、彼は家を出て行った。
After the dispute, he left the house.
A fight or quarrel, which can be verbal or physical. Very common in casual speech. Note that it often implies a more intense conflict than a simple disagreement.
To express the action of disputing a claim, fact, or decision.
To raise an objection or dispute a statement/decision. Formal and often used in legal or official settings.
彼はその判決に異議を唱えた。
He disputed the ruling.
To make a counterargument or dispute someone's point. Common in debates and discussions.
彼女は私の意見に反論した。
She disputed my opinion.
To dispute, contest, or compete for something. Can be used for legal disputes or competing claims.
To refer to something that is the subject of a dispute, often used as a modifier.
A modifier meaning 'under dispute' or 'in contention', used for legal cases, territories, etc.
Literally 'the ... in question', used to refer to a disputed or problematic item. Less formal than 係争中の.
問題の条項について話し合おう。
Let's discuss the disputed clause.
紛争 is for formal, often large-scale disputes (territorial, legal). 論争 is for intellectual or academic controversies. 口論 is for everyday verbal arguments between people.
English often uses 'dispute' as a verb (e.g., 'I dispute that'). In Japanese, it's more natural to use specific verbs like 反論する (counterargue) or 異議を唱える (raise an objection) rather than a single generic verb.
A verbal dispute or argument. Similar to 口論 but can emphasize the back-and-forth nature of the argument.
隣人との言い争いが絶えない。
There are constant disputes with the neighbor.
The children had a dispute over a toy.
彼らは遺産を争っている。
They are disputing the inheritance.