つがい

つ

が

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Typically used for mated animals or a matched pair of things; often seen in contexts like bird pairs or a pair of wings.

Anatomical term for a joint, such as a hinge joint in arthropods or a suture in a skull; not a common everyday word.

ペア
ペア is a general loanword for any pair, while つがい often implies a natural or mated pair, especially of animals.
夫ふう婦ふ
夫婦 refers specifically to a married human couple, whereas つがい is used for animals or inanimate matched pairs.
関かん節せつ
関節 is the standard anatomical term for joints in vertebrates; つがい is more specific to certain biological contexts like arthropod joints.

つがいUsage90%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji forms 番い and 番 are less common.
番つがいUsage10%
Kanji spelling, less common than kana.
番つがい
Rare kanji spelling; easily confused with 番 (ばん).

Derived from the verb 番う (つがう, 'to pair, to join'). The anatomical sense likely developed from the idea of two parts fitting together.