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.
Broken pieces of glass were on the floor.
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.
Gathering the fragments of memories.
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.
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.
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.
I cut my finger on a glass shard.
Specifically a splinter (wood, glass, etc.) stuck in the skin. Not a general broken piece.
Kanji form of とげ, used in written contexts.
A piece that has broken off from a larger whole, like a handle or a chunk.
Metaphorical use, like a broken heart or shattered dreams.
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.
I got a splinter in my finger.
A splinter is stuck and it hurts.
The chipped part of the bowl bothers me.
The broken part needs to be replaced.
夢の破片が散らばっている。
Fragments of dreams are scattered.