Translation guide
A noisy, chaotic physical fight, often in public or involving multiple people. Japanese has several words for 'fight' that differ by scale, formality, and nuance.
A loud, disorganized physical fight, typically involving multiple people or happening in a public place like a street or bar.
A general term for a brawl or melee. Often used for fights that break out in public or during events.
昨夜、駅前で乱闘があった。
There was a brawl in front of the station last night.
A common word for a fight or quarrel. Can range from a verbal argument to a physical fight, but often implies a one-on-one or small-group scuffle rather than a large brawl.
酔っ払い同士の喧嘩が始まった。
A brawl broke out between the drunkards.
A large-scale brawl or melee. Emphasizes the size and chaos of the fight.
サッカーの試合後、スタジアムで大乱闘が起きた。
After the soccer match, a huge brawl erupted in the stadium.
A prearranged or gang-related violent confrontation, often involving weapons or serious injury.
Refers to a conflict or feud, especially between gangs or organized groups. Often used in news reports about yakuza or gang violence.
暴力団同士の抗争で複数人が負傷した。
Several people were injured in a brawl between rival gangs.
A fistfight or punching match. Emphasizes the exchange of blows, often used for a chaotic physical fight.
A loud, aggressive argument or shouting match, not necessarily physical.
A heated verbal dispute or quarrel. Can be used for a noisy argument that resembles a brawl in intensity.
政治家たちの口論がテレビで放送された。
The politicians' verbal brawl was broadcast on TV.
乱闘 (rantō) specifically means a chaotic fight involving many people, often in public. 喧嘩 (kenka) is a broader term for any fight or quarrel, from a verbal argument to a physical fight, but usually smaller in scale. Use 乱闘 for a brawl, 喧嘩 for a fight or argument.
乱闘で警察が呼ばれた。
The police were called because of the brawl.
兄弟喧嘩はよくあることだ。
Sibling fights are common.
While 喧嘩 can mean a physical fight, it often implies a smaller, more personal conflict. For a large public brawl, 乱闘 is more accurate.
バーで殴り合いの喧嘩が始まった。
A fistfight brawl started at the bar.
An argument or dispute. Less intense than 口論, but can describe a brawl-like exchange of words.
隣人との言い争いが絶えない。
There are constant verbal brawls with the neighbors.