Translation guide
The English word 'remnant' refers to a small remaining part of something, often after the main part has been used, removed, or destroyed. In Japanese, the best translation depends on what kind of remnant it is: leftover food, fabric scraps, traces of the past, or surviving people/things.
Referring to food or drink that remains after a meal.
General word for leftovers or the remainder of something. Very common and neutral.
I ate yesterday's leftovers.
Specifically food left uneaten on a plate. Often implies waste.
Let's reduce food waste.
Small pieces of cloth, paper, or other material left over after cutting or manufacturing.
Fabric remnants, offcuts. Used in sewing and crafts.
I made a patchwork from fabric remnants.
Leftover cloth, often from a larger project.
I make small items with leftover cloth.
Something that remains from an earlier time, often abstract or historical.
A lingering trace, vestige, or reminder of something past. Often used for seasons, eras, or emotions.
I feel the remnants of summer.
Relic, remnant of a past age. Often used for historical artifacts or outdated customs.
Dregs, residue, or lingering remnants. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
A small number of people or things that remain after most have been destroyed or lost.
The amount left over after division.
Remainder in arithmetic. Also used for surplus in general.
If you divide 10 by 3, the remainder is 1.
残り (nokori) is the most general word for 'remnant' or 'leftover' and can be used for food, time, money, etc. 余り (amari) often implies surplus or excess beyond what is needed, and is the standard term for mathematical remainder. For food, 残り is more common; 余り can sound like 'extra' rather than 'leftover'.
The remaining time is 10 minutes.
Cook with surplus ingredients.
When talking about traces of the past or lingering feelings, directly translating 'remnant' as 残り can sound unnatural. Use 名残 (nagori) or 遺物 (ibutsu) for more natural expressions.
That custom is a remnant of the past.
Remnants of the feudal system remain.
残存する少数の部族。
A few remaining tribes.