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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,
 Gs57i6rC1zqhIdTN/7pPfrGh6sB3AW+urzIzysCY0tahttMoAupjbHUmghexJnjs
 FMXwsKz5KPSrmdDjWi0Huw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-002434.txt : 20080205
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-002434.hdr.sgml : 20080205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080205182751
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-002434
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080205

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:			0906

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEVENS RICHARD G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245268

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29357
		FILM NUMBER:		08578498

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PAIN THERAPEUTICS INC
		STREET 2:		416 BROWNING WAY
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(415) 288-7000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HUNTER  STEVENS LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1600
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
</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>2008-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEVENS RICHARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHORDIANT SOFTWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20400 STEVENS CREEK BLVD., STE. 400</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>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11848</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11848</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares shall vest in full on the earlier of (a) the first anniversary of the Annual Grant Date and (b) the date of the first Annual Meeting following the Annual Grant Date.  The shares are subject to a post-vesting holding period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Nancy H. Wojtas (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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