Translation guide
The English word 'dissonance' can refer to a harsh, clashing sound in music, or more broadly to a lack of harmony or agreement between ideas, actions, or feelings. This guide covers both the musical and figurative senses, with a focus on natural Japanese expressions.
A combination of notes that sounds harsh, unstable, or clashing, often used in music theory or description.
A lack of agreement or harmony between ideas, opinions, actions, or feelings; a sense of inconsistency or conflict.
不協和 (fukyōwa) is a more formal, abstract term for disharmony, often used in written analysis. 違和感 (iwakan) is the everyday word for a gut feeling that something is inconsistent or off. Use 違和感 when describing personal impressions; use 不協和 for objective descriptions of conflict or lack of harmony.
I felt a dissonance in his attitude.
The standard term for musical dissonance. It refers to a chord or interval that sounds tense and unresolved.
This piece uses dissonance effectively.
The dissonance resolved into a beautiful chord.
The loanword from English, used mainly in music contexts. It's understood but less common than 不協和音.
Dissonance is often used in jazz.
Literally 'harsh-sounding noise'. This is a more general description of unpleasant sound, not a technical term for musical dissonance.
The performance was full of dissonant sounds.
The general term for lack of harmony, used in social, psychological, or abstract contexts. It directly mirrors the figurative sense of 'dissonance'.
There is a dissonance between his words and actions.
The policy brought dissonance to society.
A feeling that something is off, not quite right, or inconsistent. This is the most common way to express a sense of dissonance in everyday situations.
I felt a sense of dissonance about his explanation.
There's a slight dissonance in the new design.
Literally 'mismatch' or 'disagreement'. It emphasizes a lack of alignment between two things, like opinions or data.
There is dissonance between the two opinions.
Contradiction. Use this when the dissonance involves logical inconsistency or self-contradiction.
There is a dissonance (contradiction) in his argument.
The psychological term 'cognitive dissonance'. Used in academic or self-help contexts.
Dissonance has arisen within the team.
不協和音 (fukyōwaon) specifically means musical dissonance. Using it to describe interpersonal conflict or inconsistency would sound unnatural. Stick to 不協和 or 違和感 for non-musical contexts.
The dissonance between his cheerful words and sad eyes was striking.
Modern classical music often embraces dissonance.
To resolve cognitive dissonance, people sometimes change their beliefs.