In Chinese culture, the concept of social harmony (和谐 - héxié) is paramount. Publicly airing grievances and engaging in direct, aggressive confrontation is often seen as a loss of “face” (面子 - miànzi) for everyone involved. This makes the handling of a 纠纷 culturally distinct from how a “dispute” might be handled in the West. While an American approach might be to “get a lawyer” and assert one's rights in court, the traditional Chinese approach to a 纠纷 often prioritizes mediation (调解 - tiáojiě). The goal is not necessarily for one side to “win,” but for both parties to find a compromise, restore the relationship if possible, and resolve the issue without escalating it to a public and costly legal battle (官司 - guānsi). This reflects a collectivist value system where maintaining long-term relationships and community stability can be more important than individual victory.
纠纷 (jiūfēn) is a common and important term in modern life, appearing in formal and semi-formal contexts. You'll hear it on the news, see it in contracts, and use it to describe significant disagreements.