切きれ切ぎれ

na-adjective, noun

pieces; scraps; fragments

Describes something broken or cut into small, irregular pieces. Often used with に to mean 'in pieces' or 'in fragments'.

• 紙かみが切きれ切ぎれになった。

  The paper was torn into pieces.

• 切きれ切ぎれの布ぬのを集あつめて縫ぬい合あわせた。

  I gathered scraps of cloth and sewed them together.

na-adjective, noun

disconnected; intermittent; fragmentary

Used for speech, memories, or signals that are broken or not continuous. Often appears as 切れ切れに (in a disconnected manner).

• 彼かれの話はなしは切きれ切ぎれでよくわからなかった。

  His story was so fragmentary that I couldn't understand it well.

• ラジオから切きれ切ぎれの音おん楽がくが聞きこえた。

  Intermittent music came from the radio.