noun
Describes a situation where multiple people compete or fight to get something, often with a sense of disorder or urgency. Commonly used in phrases like 取り合いになる or 取り合いをする.
人気商品をめぐって客同士の取り合いになった。
Customers got into a scramble over the popular item.
席の取り合いで喧嘩になった。
A fight broke out in the struggle for seats.
奪い合い emphasizes taking something by force or snatching, while 取り合い is a broader scramble or tussle that may not involve physical force.
Compound of 取り (continuative form of 取る, 'to take') + 合い (continuative form of 合う, 'to do together'), literally 'taking each other'. The historical derivation is straightforward.