In Western cultures, particularly American culture, arguing can sometimes be seen as a healthy way to “clear the air” or resolve issues directly. The idea of a “constructive argument” exists. In Chinese culture, however, the perspective is quite different. The concept of 和谐 (héxié) - harmony is paramount. A public or loud 吵架 is often viewed as a failure to maintain this harmony and a loss of composure. It can cause both parties to lose 面子 (miànzi) - “face” or social dignity, as it exposes a private conflict to the public and shows an inability to handle disagreements gracefully. Therefore, while arguments certainly happen in China as they do everywhere, there is a stronger cultural preference for resolving conflicts indirectly, through mediation, or by simply enduring the disagreement to maintain surface-level peace. A 吵架 is almost always seen as a disruptive, negative event, rather than a potentially productive one.
吵架 is a very common, informal word used in all sorts of everyday situations.
Because it is a separable verb, it has a flexible grammatical structure. This is a key feature of its usage. You can insert words into the middle of it, such as a duration or a count.