Translation guide
A small, sharp piece of material (usually wood, glass, or metal) that breaks off and can get stuck in skin. This guide covers how to talk about splinters in Japanese, including the object itself, getting one, and removing it.
Referring to the small sharp fragment itself, especially one stuck in skin.
The most common and general word for a splinter, especially a wooden one stuck in skin. Also means thorn or spine.
I got a splinter in my finger.
A fragment or splinter of glass, metal, or other hard material. More general than とげ and not limited to skin.
There are glass splinters on the floor.
A small piece of wood, like a wood chip or splinter. Often used for woodworking debris.
Wood splinters flew everywhere.
Describing the action of a splinter entering the skin.
Talking about taking a splinter out of skin.
Referring to a small group that has broken away from a larger organization.
とげ is usually written in kana. The kanji 棘 is also read とげ and means thorn or splinter, but in everyday writing kana is preferred. 棘 can also be read いばら (thorny shrub).
とげ is specifically for organic splinters (wood, plant thorns) stuck in skin. 破片 is for fragments of hard materials like glass, metal, or plastic, and can be anywhere, not just in skin.