Translation guide
The English word "chip" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a small piece broken off, a potato snack, a computer microchip, a gambling token, and a flaw in something. It also includes related phrases like "chip in" and "chip off the old block."
A small piece that has broken off a larger object, like wood, stone, glass, or paint.
General word for a fragment or small piece broken off something.
Chips of glass were on the floor.
More formal or technical term for a fragment, often used for shattered objects.
Glass chips flew everywhere from the explosion.
Refers to a chip or nick in an edge, like on a plate or blade.
This teacup has a small chip in it.
A thin slice of potato fried until crisp, eaten as a snack. In British English, "crisp"; in American English, "chip" or "potato chip."
A small piece of silicon containing electronic circuits, used in computers and other devices.
The standard loanword for a computer chip or integrated circuit.
This smartphone has the latest chip inside.
Specifically an integrated circuit chip. Often used in technical contexts.
Manufacturing IC chips requires advanced technology.
Semiconductor chip; used in industry and news.
A small disc used in place of money in gambling games like poker.
The standard loanword for gambling chips.
He lost all his chips in poker.
A small damaged area where a piece has broken off an object, like a cup or a tooth.
To contribute money or help as part of a group.
A person who is very similar to one of their parents in character or appearance.
A proverb meaning 'like father, like son' or 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'
He became an engineer just like his dad. He's a chip off the old block.
Means 'as alike as two peas in a pod,' often used for parent-child resemblance.
In American English, 'chips' can mean both potato chips (crisps) and French fries. In Japanese, ポテトチップス only means the thin, crispy snack. For French fries, use フライドポテト or just ポテト.
欠け (かけ) refers to the damaged spot itself (a chip in a cup), while かけら is the broken-off piece (a chip of glass). Use 欠け for the flaw and かけら for the fragment.
Be careful not to chip the glass.
I bought a bag of chips.
The computer uses a fast chip.
Buy some chips, will you?
The semiconductor chip shortage is affecting car production.
There's a small chip (or scratch) on the table.
彼は父親と瓜二つだ。
He's the spitting image of his father — a real chip off the old block.