A temporal gap or break in action, speech, or music; often used for timing in conversation or performance.
The timing of the conversation is exquisite.
The drums come in during the break in the song.
Spatial distance or gap between things or people; often used in physical contexts like fighting or positioning.
Measure the distance to the opponent.
The gap between the cars is too narrow to pass.
suitable time; right moment; appropriate opportunity
A favorable timing or chance to act; often used in strategic or conversational contexts.
Wait for the right moment to bring up the topic.
distance between opponents (kendo)
Specific martial arts term for the engagement distance in kendo; also used in other combat sports.
In kendo, the distance between opponents determines victory or defeat.
Standard spelling with okurigana; high frequency in news.
Less common variant without okurigana, but still encountered.
Compound of 間 (ma, 'space, interval') and 合い (ai, 'meeting, fitting'), literally 'fitting interval'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period in martial arts and later extended to general timing and distance.