Translation guide
The English word "piece" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a part of something, a single item, an artistic work, and more. Japanese uses different words depending on what kind of "piece" you mean.
Referring to a broken-off part, a slice, or a component of a whole.
A broken piece, fragment, or splinter. Often used for physical objects like glass, metal, or bone.
ガラスの破片が床に落ちていた。
Pieces of glass were on the floor.
A small fragment or scrap. Can be used for both physical and abstract things (e.g., a piece of memory).
パンの欠片を鳥にあげた。
I gave the birds a piece of bread.
A single piece or fragment, often used in formal or written contexts.
一片のパンも残っていない。
There isn't a single piece of bread left.
A cut-off piece, scrap, or leftover bit, like a piece of cloth or paper.
布の切れ端で人形を作った。
I made a doll from pieces of cloth.
Counting or referring to one individual object, often when the object is implied or generic.
Japanese uses counters (助数詞) for counting items. The counter depends on the shape or type of object. For example, 枚 (まい) for flat objects, 個 (こ) for small objects, 本 (ほん) for long objects. To say 'a piece of paper', use 一枚 (いちまい).
紙を一枚ください。
Please give me a piece of paper.
チョコレートを三個食べた。
I ate three pieces of chocolate.
An item or article, often used in commercial contexts (e.g., a piece of merchandise).
この品は一点限りです。
This piece is the only one available.
One item, especially in art, collections, or retail. Literally 'one point'.
Referring to a created work such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, or writing.
A general term for a creative work (art, literature, music, etc.).
この作品は彼の最高傑作だ。
This piece is his masterpiece.
Specifically a piece of music.
彼女はピアノで一曲弾いた。
She played a piece on the piano.
A painting or drawing; a piece of visual art.
壁に素敵な絵がかかっている。
There is a lovely piece of art on the wall.
A sculpture or carved piece.
Referring to a unit of currency or a game piece.
A coin (as currency).
彼はポケットから十円硬貨を取り出した。
He took out a ten-yen piece from his pocket.
A coin, often used for game tokens or foreign currency.
A game piece, such as in chess or shogi.
将棋の駒を動かす。
Move a shogi piece.
A piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine.
A news article or report.
彼はその事件についての記事を書いた。
He wrote a piece about the incident.
An academic paper or scholarly piece.
Referring to a single garment or accessory.
Counter for suits or sets of clothing, but also used as a noun meaning 'one piece of clothing' in contexts like '一着'.
新しい服を一着買った。
I bought a new piece of clothing.
An item, often used in fashion contexts for a piece of clothing or accessory.
A plot or parcel of land.
A piece of land or plot.
彼は郊外に小さな土地を買った。
He bought a small piece of land in the suburbs.
A section or plot of land, often in a planned division.
A single unit of abstract information.
Use 一つの (one) before the noun to mean 'a piece of'. Common with 助言 (advice), 情報 (information), ニュース (news).
一つ助言をしてもいいですか。
Can I give you a piece of advice?
彼は一つの興味深い情報を教えてくれた。
He told me an interesting piece of information.
In many cases, English uses 'piece' as a generic counter, but Japanese requires a specific counter word. For example, 'a piece of cake' is ケーキ一個 (ケーキいっこ), not ケーキの一片. Learn the appropriate counter for the object.
破片 (はへん) is for hard, broken fragments (glass, metal). かけら is for smaller, often softer scraps (bread, memories). かけら can be more poetic.
This painting is the most famous piece among his works.
その彫刻は大理石でできている。
That piece is made of marble.
You need a coin to play the game.
彼女は経済学の論文を発表した。
She published a piece on economics.
このジャケットは今季のマストアイテムだ。
This jacket is a must-have piece this season.
This piece of land is for residential use.