Japanese word

喧嘩

Pronunciation

Romajikenka

Meaning

  • nounfight

Example

子どもたちは喧嘩をしています。ko do mo ta chi wa ken ka o shi te i ma su

The children are fighting.

Illustration for 喧嘩 (fight)

More examples

意見が合わず、二人は喧嘩になりました。i ken ga a wa zu futa ri wa ken ka ni na ri ma shi ta

The two of them got into a fight because they disagreed.

Core concept

It centers on people opposing each other in a heated dispute or physical struggle.

Common phrases

  • 喧嘩をするken ka o su ru

    have a fight

  • 喧嘩になるken ka ni na ru

    get into a fight

  • 喧嘩を売るken ka o u ru

    pick a fight

Similar words

口げんかkuchigenka: A quarrel involving angry words, often between people who know each other.
口論kōron: A dispute expressed through words, often with opposing opinions.
争いarasoi: A conflict in which people oppose each other over an issue or interest.

Definition in Japanese

人どうしが言い争ったり力をぶつけ合ったりすること。hito dō shi ga i i araso tta ri chikara o bu tsu ke a tta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

喧嘩 (kenka, "fight") uses the Sino-Japanese readings of 喧 (ken, "noisy") and 嘩 (ka, "clamorous"), linking its written form with a noisy dispute.

Usage tips

  • In casual conversation, 喧嘩 (kenka) often describes a quarrel between friends or family members, while the exact type of conflict comes from the context.

Other meanings

  • argumentnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 喧嘩するkenkasurufightverb
  • 喧嘩っ早いkenkappayaiquick to pick a fighti-adjective

Word lists with this word