対
たい · tai · JLPT N3 · noun
pair
🧦 Sounds like tie: a tie is two sides evenly matched, a pair
対 marks two things set against or beside each other. In a score, 1対1 (いちたいいち) means one-to-one, a tie. The same idea gives 対 its sense of a matched pair or set, like two socks.
つい · tsui · JLPT N3 · noun
pair
🧦 tsui sounds like two-ee: a pair is always two of something
対 = 文 + 寸 (a hand). The same kanji means versus and facing, as in 反対 (opposite) and 3対2 (3 to 2). Two things that face each other make a matched set.