noun
dispute over irrigation water distribution
Rural term for quarrels among farmers about sharing water for rice paddies in summer. Often synonymous with 水争い.
See also: 水争い
昔は夏になると、村同士で水喧嘩がよく起きた。
In the old days, disputes over water distribution often broke out between villages in summer.
水喧嘩を防ぐために、水利組合が作られた。
An irrigation association was formed to prevent water disputes.
Synonym; 水喧嘩 is more colloquial and emphasizes the quarrelsome aspect, while 水争い is a broader term for water conflicts.
Compound of 水 (water) and 喧嘩 (quarrel). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it likely arose in agricultural communities where irrigation water was a common source of conflict.