つじつま

つ

じ

つ

ま

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

coherence; consistency

usually written using kana alone

Used for logical consistency, especially in stories, explanations, or arguments. Often appears in phrases like つじつまが合う (to be consistent) or つじつまを合わせる (to make things consistent).

彼かれの話はなしはつじつまが合あわない。
His story doesn't add up.

証しょう

言げん

の

つじつま

を

合あ

わせる

必ひつ

要よう

が

ある

。

We need to make the testimonies consistent.

Written forms

つじつまUsage58%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 辻褄 is also used but less common.
辻つじ褄つまUsage41%
Kanji form; 辻 means 'crossroads' and 褄 means 'skirt hem', together suggesting things that should meet or match.
ツジツマUsage1%

Kanji

辻crossing, crossroad, street corners
褄skirt, (kokuji)

Similar words

一いっ貫かん性せい
一貫性 is a more formal term for consistency, often used in academic or business contexts, while つじつま is more colloquial and focuses on logical coherence.
筋すじ
筋 can mean logical thread or storyline, and 筋が通る means to be logical, but つじつま specifically refers to the matching of details.

Etymology

From 辻 (crossroads) and 褄 (skirt hem), both of which should align properly; the combination metaphorically refers to things fitting together logically.