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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ol/IY4via84EHYBVIF5pcKhvx1zPYVHLeqItq2SR2exPDS/vX/lonMoUiU0b7kzQ
 pqPBuUZf6m1/CyckpWQx5A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-001188.txt : 20050114
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-001188.hdr.sgml : 20050114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050114211641
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-001188
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050114
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOFFMAN CHARLES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199748

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29357
		FILM NUMBER:		05531851

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COVAD COMMUNICATIONS CO
		STREET 2:		3420 CENTRAL EXPW
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4086166500

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHORDIANT SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001042134
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				931051328
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20400 STEVENS CREEK BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			CUPERTINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4085176100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20400 STEVENS CREEK BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			CUPERTINO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001042134</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHORDIANT SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHRD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199748</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOFFMAN CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20400 STEVENS CREEK BLVD., SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CUPERTINO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Grant (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option is immediately exercisable with one-third (1/3) of the shares vesting on the first anniversay of the grant date and one-thirty-sixth (1/36) of the shares initially granted vesting each month thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith D. Pisani (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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