noun
physical discomfort; bodily disorder
Refers to a vague, often mild physical unease or something not quite right with the body. Most commonly encountered in the set phrase 違和感 (いわかん).
朝から胃に違和がある。
I've had a strange feeling in my stomach since this morning.
喉に違和を感じたら、早めに病院へ行きましょう。
If you feel something wrong with your throat, see a doctor early.
noun
incongruity; incompatibility; inconsistency
Describes a mismatch, lack of harmony, or something that doesn't fit. Often used in abstract contexts like opinions, atmospheres, or relationships. The compound 違和感 is the most common way to express this sense.
彼の説明には違和がある。
There's an inconsistency in his explanation.
新しい職場にまだ違和を感じている。
I still feel out of place at my new workplace.
The far more common compound meaning 'a sense of discomfort/incongruity'. 違和 is rarely used alone outside of set phrases; 違和感 is the everyday word for expressing a feeling that something is off.
A Sino-Japanese compound of 違 (difference, violation) and 和 (harmony, peace), literally 'broken harmony'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the early modern period to describe both physical and abstract disharmony.