噛かみ合あう

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

mesh; engage; interlock

Used for gears, cogs, and mechanical parts fitting together. Also used for teeth meeting in occlusion.

• この歯は車ぐるまはうまく噛かみ合あっていない。

  These gears aren't meshing properly.

• 上じょう下げの歯はがきちんと噛かみ合あっている。

  The upper and lower teeth meet properly.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

bite each other

Describes animals or people biting one another. Less common than the mechanical sense.

• 犬いぬ同どう士しが噛かみ合あっている。

  The dogs are biting each other.

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

get along; be on the same wavelength; mesh

Figurative use, usually in the negative form 噛み合わない, meaning opinions, personalities, or conversations don't match or are out of sync.

• あの人ひととは話はなしが噛かみ合あわない。

  I can't get on the same wavelength with that person.

• 議ぎ論ろんが噛かみ合あわず、時じ間かんだけが過すぎた。

  The discussion didn't mesh, and time just passed.