Translation guide
How to talk about a broken piece, fragment, or shard in Japanese, depending on what broke and the context.
Referring to a piece that has broken off from something, like a piece of glass, pottery, or a small broken part.
The most common and neutral word for a broken piece or fragment, especially of hard materials like glass, metal, or pottery.
ガラスの破片が床に落ちていた。
Broken pieces of glass were on the floor.
事故で車の破片が散乱した。
Pieces of the car were scattered after the accident.
A small fragment or bit, often used for tiny pieces or remnants. Can feel slightly more literary or emotional than 破片.
思い出のかけらを集める。
Gathering the fragments of memories.
皿のかけらが散らばっている。
Fragments of the plate are scattered around.
Same reading and meaning as かけら, but written with kanji. Often used in written or formal contexts.
ガラスの欠片に注意してください。
Please be careful of the glass fragments.
A technical or formal term for a broken piece or fragment, often used in scientific or engineering contexts.
岩石の砕片を分析する。
Analyze rock fragments.
Emphasizing a sharp, dangerous broken piece, like glass or metal.
破片 is also the standard word for shards. Context makes the sharpness clear.
ガラスの破片で指を切った。
I cut my finger on a glass shard.
Specifically a splinter (wood, glass, etc.) stuck in the skin. Not a general broken piece.
指にとげが刺さった。
I got a splinter in my finger.
Kanji form of とげ, used in written contexts.
棘が刺さって痛い。
A splinter is stuck and it hurts.
A piece that has broken off from a larger whole, like a handle or a chunk.
Literally 'broken-off part', a natural phrase for a piece that snapped off.
折れた部分を接着剤でくっつけた。
I glued the broken piece back on.
A chipped or missing part, often used for edges of cups, plates, etc.
茶碗の欠けた部分が気になる。
The chipped part of the bowl bothers me.
Formal/technical term for a damaged or broken part.
破損部を交換する必要がある。
The broken part needs to be replaced.
Metaphorical use, like a broken heart or shattered dreams.
Used metaphorically for fragments of emotions, memories, etc.
心のかけらを拾い集める。
Picking up the pieces of my heart.
Can be used metaphorically but feels more concrete; less common for emotions.
破片 (はへん) is the standard, neutral word for a broken piece of hard material. かけら is slightly more literary or emotional, and often smaller. For glass shards, 破片 is best. For tiny remnants or metaphorical fragments, かけら is common.
部分 (ぶぶん) just means 'part' and doesn't imply brokenness. Use 折れた部分 or 欠けた部分 to specify it's a broken piece.
Fragments of dreams are scattered.